---
title: Could a brain hormone called allopregnanolone explain mood problems like PMDD in women?
description: This review suggests that changes in allopregnanolone, a hormone-like substance in the brain, may be linked to mood problems including premenstrual dysphoria
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/disadaptive-disorders-in-women-allopregnanolone-a-sensitive-steroid-2004/
---

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- Could a brain hormone called allopregnanolone explain mood problems like PMDD in women?

Review, 2004

# Could a brain hormone called allopregnanolone explain mood problems like PMDD in women?

This review suggests that changes in allopregnanolone, a hormone-like substance in the brain, may be linked to mood problems including premenstrual dysphoria (PMDD), but this is a theory based on existing animal and human research, not new proof.

 Early or limited evidence

Women in general; underlying research reviewed is mostly from animal models

## What they did

A review of research, mostly in animal models, looking at how levels of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone change with the hormone cycle and how it affects stress, anxiety, depression, aggression, sleep, memory, pain and appetite.

## What they found

In animal models, allopregnanolone levels change across the cycle and affect behavior and stress responses. The authors propose that unusual (increased, decreased, or irregular) allopregnanolone levels may play a role in depression, PMDD, anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and Alzheimer's disease, and that women may be especially sensitive to these hormone-related mood changes.

## What it means for you

This points to a possible biological reason some women are more vulnerable to mood problems around their cycle, but it is a hypothesis built on a review of mostly animal studies, not a human trial, so it cannot prove cause and effect.

## About the study

Original title Disadaptive disorders in women: allopregnanolone, a sensitive steroid Authors Bernardi F, Pluchino N, Begliuomini S et al. Journal Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology Year 2004 Study design Review What was tested None tested; the paper reviews the biology of the hormone allopregnanolone Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/09513590400018223](https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590400018223)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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

Review, 2003

How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?

Case-control study, 2013

Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2006

Do women with PMDD and depression process progesterone differently than others?

Review, 2000

What conditions beyond depression can antidepressants treat?

Non-randomised trial, 2024

Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?

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