Do testosterone levels affect mood after a stroke?

This study looked at whether the levels of sex hormones in patients who had a stroke? are associated with mood disturbances. The authors concluded that low testosterone levels are linked to anger proneness and emotional incontinence in these patients.

Patients who have had a stroke commonly have mood and emotional disturbances which can impact recovery. Some patients experience anger proneness (AP) where they become irritable or aggressive. Patients can also experience emotional incontinence (EI) where they have excessive and uncontrollable emotions. There has been very little research done looking at AP and EI in patients with stroke. In healthy people, mood disturbances are usually related to sex hormones such as testosterone. Testosterone levels are reduced by statin drugs, which are frequently prescribed after a stroke. It is possible that there is an association between sex hormones and AP and EI in patients with stroke.

The study included 40 patients who had a stroke more than 3 months before the trial. 16 (40%) patients had AP/EI beginning the trial.

Testosterone levels were lower in patients with AP/EI compared to those without. Patients with low testosterone levels were 32% more likely to have AP/EI. There was also a higher rate of depression in the AP/EI group.

There was no difference in sex hormone levels between patients who used statin drugs and those who did not.

The authors concluded that AP/EI were linked to low testosterone levels in patients with stroke. They also state that this was not affected by statin use.

This study had a very small sample size which was predominantly male.