The role of cortisol and prolactin in the pathogenesis and clinical expression of psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders are relatively prevalent mental illnesses (3% lifetime prevalence) that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions (van Os et al., 2010) and constitute a major health burden worldwide (Vigo et al., 2016). The subtype of psychotic disorder may be difficult to diagnose at the onset of the illness due to the heterogeneity of the presentation of symptoms (Peralta et al., 2013). In most cases, patients with psychotic symptoms requiring psychiatric treatment will develop a recurrent and chronic mental disorder in the following years, with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and psychotic depression being the main long-term psychiatric diagnoses.
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research