Survey study, 1994
How do food, serotonin, and mood relate in PMS and other conditions?
This review discusses how serotonin, a brain chemical, affects mood and eating in conditions including PMS. It suggests that treatments like antidepressants (SSRIs) and light therapy may work for these conditions because they involve similar serotonin problems.
What they did
Reviewed published research on relationships between food, eating, serotonin, and mood changes in PMS, seasonal affective disorder, depression, anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
What they found
Multiple different conditions (seasonal affective disorder, atypical depression, PMS, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder) all involve serotonin dysfunction. Treatments that increase serotonin, including SSRIs (such as fluoxetine), MAO inhibitors, and light therapy, help these conditions.
What it means for you
Different mental health conditions with different names may actually share similar problems with the brain chemical serotonin. This suggests doctors might use similar treatments across these conditions. The main limitation is this is a review of existing research rather than new research, so it does not provide new evidence specifically about PMS.
About the study
- Original title
- Food and mood: relationship between food, serotonin and affective disorders
- Authors
- Wallin MS, Rissanen AM
- Journal
- Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Review of phototherapy and antidepressant medications (SSRIs including fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb05800.x
Topics
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