Schizophrenia is a debilitating and complex mental illness. Medications currently used for schizophrenia have only modest and inconsistent effects. We are testing a novel hormone treatment, which we know from previous research to be safe and well-tolerated, for is efficacy in improving schizophrenia symptoms. Women who are 18-45 years old, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and are stabilised on current therapy for at least 4 weeks, are invited to take part in a 12-week study that is underway in Melbourne.

Participants will be randomly selected to receive daily either 1) 40mg of selective estrogen, or 2) inactive placebo. Participants will meet with the research team every 2 weeks at the study site in Melbourne and will complete questionnaires and computerised tasks to assess symptoms, attention, and thinking skills. Following completion of the trial, participants will meet with the Chief Investigator, Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, to discuss their results and any further treatment recommendation.