--- title: Does the serotonin system work differently in PMDD across the menstrual cycle? description: Yes. Women with PMDD showed an 18 percent increase in serotonin transporter binding during the premenstrual phase while controls showed a 10 percent decrease. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/increase-in-serotonin-transporter-binding-in-patients-with-premenstrual-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the serotonin system work differently in PMDD across the menstrual cycle? Case-control study, 2023 # Does the serotonin system work differently in PMDD across the menstrual cycle? Yes. Women with PMDD showed an 18 percent increase in serotonin transporter binding during the premenstrual phase while controls showed a 10 percent decrease. This increase correlated with depression severity. Strong study design 30 people with PMDD and 29 without PMDD ## What they did Researchers studied 30 people with PMDD and 29 without PMDD. They used brain PET scans to measure serotonin transporter levels (a protein that removes serotonin from the brain) at two points in the menstrual cycle: around ovulation and before the period. They collected 118 scans total. ## What they found In the PMDD group, serotonin transporter binding increased from 1.64 during ovulation to 1.93 before the period, an 18 percent increase. In the control group, it decreased from 1.65 to 1.49, a 10 percent decrease. The stronger the increase in serotonin transporter, the worse the depression symptoms in women with PMDD. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD may have a serotonin system that gets more active just before their period, which could explain depressive symptoms. This finding suggests that treatments targeting serotonin before symptoms start might help. The study used objective brain imaging measures. 30 People with PMDD 29 Control participants 18% Increase in serotonin transporter PMDD ## About the study Original title Increase in Serotonin Transporter Binding in Patients With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Case-Control Longitudinal Neuroreceptor Ligand Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study Authors Sacher J, Zsido RG, Barth C et al. Journal Biological psychiatry Year 2023 Study design Case-control study Participants 30 What was tested Brain PET scans measuring serotonin transporter binding Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.023](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.023) ## Topics [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/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) 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 Randomised trial, 2023 What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry? Randomised trial, 2025 Does taking an antidepressant only during the second half of your cycle reduce anger and aggression in PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗