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HOW SEX HORMONES AFFECT THE MIND
An article from Finland shows that men who are habitual criminal offenders with personality disorders have very high blood levels of the male hormone, testosterone, while those who are schizophrenic have low levels.
The schizophrenics who have serious thought disorders could have low testosterone levels from the drugs that they take to treat their disorder, but the criminals have high testosterone levels most likely because it makes them so aggressive that they do not consider the effects of their devious behavior on other people. Many studies show that the male hormone, testosterone, can cause aggressive behavior.
The female hormone, estrogen also affects the mind. There are special receptors for estrogen in the brain, so it raises mood and helps a woman to think and reason. So, doctors prescribe estrogen to treat depression at menopause and prevent Alzheimer's disease and strokes. Sometimes doctors have to prescribe higher than usual doses of estrogen to treat depression or loss of mental function.
P Rasanen, H Hakko, S Visuri, J Paanila, P Kapanen, T Suomela, J Tiihonen. Serum testosterone levels, mental disorders and criminal behavior. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1999, Vol 99, Iss 5, pp 348-352.
Checked 8/9/05