The importance of stress as a possible deteriorating factor for schizophrenic patients is well documented. However, this notion is based on subjective experience and retrospective psychological analysis. A novel method of measuring cortisol using hair has a proven correlation to subjective stress in non-clinical as well as psychiatric clinical populations. This pilot study will attempt to assess the use of cortisol hair level, as a marker of stress, to predict clinical deterioration in schizophrenic patients.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
34
Analysis of hair cortisol levels
Shalvata MHC
Hod HaSharon, Israel
Change from Baseline in Positive And Negative Symptoms Score
correlation between hair cortisol level change from baseline and PANSS score change from baseline.
Time frame: 3 month
Change from Baseline in Positive And Negative Symptoms Score
correlation between hair cortisol level change from baseline and PANSS score change from baseline.
Time frame: 6 month
Change from Baseline in SANS, CGI, CDS, GAF and QOL Scores
correlation between hair cortisol level change from baseline and SANS, CDS, GAF, CGI, and QOL scores change from baseline.
Time frame: 3 month
Change from Baseline in SANS, CGI, CDS, GAF and QOL Scores
correlation between hair cortisol level change from baseline and SANS, CDS, GAF, CGI, and QOL scores change from baseline.
Time frame: 6 month
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