Bazedoxifene -Treatment for Women With Schizophrenia

Inclusion criteria

• Physically well.
• A current DSM-V diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorder.
• 18- 65 years
• Able to give informed consent.
• PANSS total score between 40 and 90.
• Documented normal PAP smear and pelvic examination in the preceding two years.
• Stable psychotropic medication for previous 4 weeks
• Normal breast screen (for women aged over 40 years)
• IQ \> 70 (as determined by the WAIS IV subtests)
• English language proficiency (in order to provide informed consent and complete cognitive test battery)

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with known abnormalities in the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis, thyroid dysfunction, central nervous system tumours, active or past history of a venous thromboembolic event.
• Patients with a history of severe traumatic brain injury or significant neurological or unstable medical illness such as epilepsy and diabetes or known active cardiac, renal or liver disease; presence of illness causing immobilisation.
• Patients whose psychotic illness is directly related to illicit substance use or who have a history of substance dependence during the last six months (with the exclusion of caffeine and/or nicotine dependence).
• Women aged 40 or over who have not had a normal mammogram in the last 24 months
• Use of any form of estrogen, progestin or androgen as hormonal therapy in preceding 4 weeks including the pill (excluding IUD or Hormone Implants).
• Pregnant (HCG will be measured at screening)
• Breastfeeding
• Planned changes to psychotropic medication or psychotherapy regimen.