Program

The influence of sex hormones on human behavior and psychological functioning has increasingly become the focus of scientific interest. Differences in various psychological domains are traced back to different hormonal profiles between the sexes. These hormones have an influence on developmental processes and have a formative effect on brain structure and function. Even before birth, sex hormones contribute significantly to the differentiation between the sexes. Sex hormones not only channel the developmental process, the acute levels and fluctuations in the release of these hormones have a significant effect on emotional and cognitive processes in adulthood. Of note, fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone levels play an important role in the pathogenesis of common mental disorders. Women are significantly more affected by anxiety and depression, yet this difference only occurs after puberty and gonadal maturation. Borderline personality disorder, also diagnosed more frequently in women, has been associated with increased basal testosterone. In this symposium, we will present current research findings from basic research and clinical practice. Yasaman Rafiee will present data on the moderating role of sex and gender role self-concepts on sex hormones and cortisol reactivity to social stress, Christian Deuter about effects of estradiol and progesterone administration on fear extinction in healthy women, Eugenia Kulakova about the role of testosterone in women with borderline personality disorder, Serenay Sarıkaya about effects of antiestrogen therapy on brain structure, mood, and well-being in women with breast cancer and Kim Hoffmann about the relationship between menstrual cycle, stress and cortisol in women with PMDD.