Prostate cancer and schizophrenia

ObjectivesTo assess the incidence of prostate cancer in individuals with schizophrenia.MethodsA MEDLINE search was performed for all studies of “prostate cancer” or “cancer” and “schizophrenia.”ResultsFive studies had age-standardized, site-specific cancer data. All five had a lower standardized incidence ratio for prostate cancer, ranging from 0.49 to 0.76. The incidence of cancer at other sites varied among the studies. Possible explanations included ascertainment bias; genetic factors; antipsychotic drug effects, either by being cancer protective or decreasing testosterone, or both; and lifestyle differences, such as prolonged hospitalization resulting in a decreased opportunity for heterosexual intercourse.ConclusionsThe results of this study have revealed that the incidence of prostate cancer in individuals with schizophrenia is significantly lower than expected.