Neuropsychological effects of methyltestosterone in women using menopausal hormone replacement.

Author(s): Regestein QR, Friebely J, Shifren J, Schiff I

Affiliation(s): Department of Psychiatry, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Publication date & source: 2001-09, J Womens Health Gend Based Med., 10(7):671-6.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

To observe the effects of androgen replacement on neuropsychological measures in menopausal women, healthy menopausal women already using replacement estrogen were studied in a randomized, double-blind, active placebo-controlled, crossover comparison between two 8-week periods of treatment with (1) 0.625 mg oral esterified estrogen (E) alone and (2) in combination with 1.25 mg oral methyltestosterone (meT). After an initial baseline session, data were gathered at the end of two treatment periods. Scores on standardized psychological tests and computerized reaction times were compared between treatments, as was an overall outcome score that combined all measures. Added meT significantly improved scores on a test of complex information processing, the Switching Attention Test, but not on other tests. Mean outcome score showed no net change and wide variation. Fourteen subjects had outcome scores >1 SD from the mean, and 21 had no change. In the estrogen alone condition, three measures predicted favorable outcome with added meT: surgically compromised ovarian function, fewer physical symptoms, and higher score on a self-image measure of creativity. Added meT treatment may improve complex information processing. Despite wide disparities in outcome, an increased chance of overall improvement may be predicted by specific pretreatment measures.