Meeting abstract

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2026.157

Serum Testosterone Screening in Male Psychiatric Patients

Ivan Ljoka ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia *
Mislav Škrobo ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Frane Paleka ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hanna Pašić ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dora Herceg ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ante Silić ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dalibor Karlović ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association of serum
testosterone parameters with the severity
of acute mental illness and length of hospitalization
in male patients, and to determine the
relationship of testosterone with age, smoking,
and body mass index. Materials and methods:
The study included 253 male patients hospitalized
at the Department of Biological Psychiatry,
Sisters of Charity University Hospital in Zagreb.
Total testosterone, free testosterone, and the free
testosterone index were measured, and illness severity
at admission was assessed using the CGI-S
scale. Data were analyzed according to diagnoses,
length of hospitalization, age, smoking status,
and BMI. Statistical analysis: Descriptive and inferential
statistics were applied, including correlation
analyses between hormonal and clinical variables. Results: The most common diagnoses were
alcohol-related disorders, schizophrenia, and depressive
disorders. Schizophrenia was associated
with the greatest clinical severity at admission
and the longest hospital stay, whereas patients
with alcohol-related disorders had a milder clinical
presentation and shorter hospitalization. No
significant association was found between total
or free testosterone and illness severity according
to the CGI-S scale or with length of hospitalization,
while the free testosterone index showed a
weak negative association with illness severity.
Age was negatively associated with all testosterone
measures, smoking was associated with
higher total testosterone, and BMI was negatively
associated with total and positively with free
testosterone. Conclusion: In this acute psychiatric
cohort, testosterone was not a major predictor of
clinical severity or treatment duration, whereas
age and body weight had a more pronounced influence
on hormonal status.

Keywords

testosterone; psychiatry; hospitalization; schizophrenia

Hrčak ID:

352271

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/352271

Publication date:

15.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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