--- title: Do brain chemicals linked to mood (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline) look different in women with PMS? description: Overall levels of these brain chemicals in spinal fluid were not different between women with PMS and women without, but some patterns in how the chemicals re url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cerebrospinal-fluid-levels-of-monoamine-metabolites-a-preliminary-study-of-their-1994/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do brain chemicals linked to mood (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline) look different in women with PMS? Survey study, 1994 # Do brain chemicals linked to mood (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline) look different in women with PMS? Overall levels of these brain chemicals in spinal fluid were not different between women with PMS and women without, but some patterns in how the chemicals related to each other and to hormones did differ. With only 13 women per group, the authors call this preliminary. Early or limited evidence 13 women with PMS (drug-free, not depressed) and 13 women without premenstrual complaints. ## What they did Researchers took spinal fluid samples by lumbar puncture from 13 women with PMS (not depressed, not on medication) and 13 women without premenstrual complaints. Samples came from the luteal and/or follicular phase; 6 patients and 8 controls gave samples in both phases. They measured breakdown products of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, and compared these to hormone levels. ## What they found No difference between groups in average metabolite levels in either phase, and no luteal vs follicular difference within either group. HVA and 5-HIAA varied less sample-to-sample in the PMS group than in controls. The HVA/5-HIAA ratio was significantly lower in PMS patients than controls, and in the luteal phase this ratio correlated negatively with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The noradrenaline metabolite correlated with luteinizing hormone in the follicular phase, and the dopamine metabolite with prolactin in the luteal phase. ## What it means for you This hints at subtle differences in brain chemical regulation in PMS rather than simple differences in amount, but the sample was very small and uneven across phases, so the authors say results need repeating in a larger study. 13 women with PMS studied 13 control women studied 6 / 8 patients/controls sampled in both phases ## About the study Original title Cerebrospinal fluid levels of monoamine metabolites. A preliminary study of their relation to menstrual cycle phase, sex steroids, and pituitary hormones in healthy women and in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Eriksson E, Alling C, Andersch B et al. Journal Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Year 1994 Study design Survey study Participants 13 What was tested None tested. This measured spinal fluid chemicals and hormones, not a treatment. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380107](https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380107) ## 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/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2020 What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Review, 2013 What treatments work best for PMDD? Survey study, 2026 Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different? Randomised trial, 2025 Does escitalopram improve attention and reduce impulsivity in women with premenstrual irritability and anger? Case-control study, 2023 Do emotion regulation strategies help women with PMDD manage mood and stress hormones? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗