Case report, 2013
Can mood disorder symptoms happen only during the second half of the menstrual cycle?
One woman had cycles of high mood followed by low mood that happened only during the second half of her menstrual cycle, repeating each month.
What they did
Case report of a 42-year-old woman whose mood episodes happened only during the second half of her menstrual cycle, lasting 10 to 12 days and resolving after menstruation started. These episodes occurred in almost every menstrual cycle since she was 20 years old. Doctors did blood tests and hormone tests, which were normal. She was treated with lamotrigine.
What they found
For 4 to 5 days, she had high mood, rapid speech, increased sexual desire, active thinking, and restless energy. Then for 6 to 7 days, she had irritable and depressive mood, fatigue, sleeping more, tearfulness, low self-esteem, and negative thinking. She also had migraines and binge-eating during the low mood phase. Treatment with lamotrigine 200 mg/day improved her symptoms.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle can trigger mood changes in some women that may look like PMDD but might be a different condition. The exact connection between PMDD and other mood conditions is not yet clear.
10-12 days
duration of each mood episode
200 mg/day
lamotrigine dose
42
patient's age
About the study
- Original title
- 1824 – Menstrually Related Cyclothymia: a Case Report
- Authors
- Μαρία Σκώκου, Philippos Gourzis
- Journal
- European Psychiatry
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Lamotrigine 200 mg/day
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(13)76789-0
Topics
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