---
title: Can an animal model help us understand PMDD and test treatments?
description: Yes, researchers found a rat model showing premenstrual-like irritability that responds to antidepressants, which could help understand what causes PMDD and t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/an-animal-model-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-sensitive-to-antidepressants-2009/
---

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- Can an animal model help us understand PMDD and test treatments?

Lab study, 2009

# Can an animal model help us understand PMDD and test treatments?

Yes, researchers found a rat model showing premenstrual-like irritability that responds to antidepressants, which could help understand what causes PMDD and test new treatments.

 Early or limited evidence

Female rats

## What they did

Researchers studied female rats and measured burying behavior across their estrous cycle (the animal equivalent of a menstrual cycle). Burying behavior is a sign of irritability-like behavior. They tested whether antidepressants could reverse this behavior.

## What they found

A subgroup of female rats showed increased marble burying at metestrus (equivalent to the late luteal phase in humans) and decreased burying at proestrus (earlier in the cycle). The increased burying at metestrus did not decrease with repeated exposure. Several antidepressants reversed this increased burying behavior.

## What it means for you

This animal model may help researchers understand what happens in the brain during PMDD and test how antidepressants work. However, findings in rats do not always apply to humans, and this is early-stage basic research.

## About the study

Original title An animal model of premenstrual dysphoric disorder sensitive to antidepressants Authors Schneider T, Popik P Journal Current protocols in neuroscience Year 2009 Study design Lab study What was tested Antidepressant treatment and behavioral testing Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/0471142301.ns0931s46](https://doi.org/10.1002/0471142301.ns0931s46)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)

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