Case report, 1992
Can severe depression linked to the menstrual cycle be treated?
Yes. One woman with severe psychotic depression that happened every month before her period improved completely with bupropion medication after many other treatments failed.
What they did
Case report of a 26-year-old woman whose severe depression started after giving birth and then occurred every month before her period for 33 consecutive months. She had attempted suicide by self-burning and had tried various antidepressants, antipsychotics, and hormone treatments without improvement.
What they found
When given bupropion combined with low-dose trifluoperazine, she had immediate and complete remission of symptoms. This improvement continued when checked at 16-month follow-up.
What it means for you
Bupropion may help women with severe cycle-linked psychiatric symptoms when other treatments fail. However, this is one case of a dangerous condition requiring emergency hospital care. The response to this medication may not happen in other women. Women with severe monthly psychiatric symptoms need urgent medical evaluation.
33
consecutive months of depression before her period
16
months of sustained improvement at follow-up
About the study
- Original title
- A case of monthly unipolar psychotic depression with suicide attempt by self-burning: selective response to bupropion treatment
- Authors
- Schenck CH, Mandell M, Lewis GM
- Journal
- Comprehensive psychiatry
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Bupropion and low-dose trifluoperazine
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0010-440x(92)90044-q
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