Randomised trial, 2002
Is fluoxetine or cognitive-behavioral therapy more effective for PMDD?
Both work equally well after 6 months. Fluoxetine works faster and reduces anxiety more. Cognitive-behavioral therapy builds better coping skills and changes how women think about their symptoms.
What they did
Women with PMDD received either fluoxetine or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for 6 months. Researchers measured premenstrual symptoms daily, mood, thoughts about the cause of symptoms, and coping strategies. They followed women for 1 year.
What they found
Both treatments reduced symptoms equally by 6 months. Fluoxetine worked faster and had greater impact on anxiety. CBT increased use of active coping strategies and shifted how women thought about symptoms from purely medical to combining physical and psychological factors. Women with depression at baseline did worse in both treatments. Women who learned active behavioral coping strategies had better outcomes at 1 year.
What it means for you
Both fluoxetine and CBT work for PMDD but through different mechanisms. Choice between them may depend on preference and what matters most to you. Learning active coping skills predicts better long-term outcomes.
6 months
treatment duration
1 year
follow-up period
About the study
- Original title
- Medical (fluoxetine) and psychological (cognitive-behavioural therapy) treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a study of treatment processes
- Authors
- Hunter MS, Ussher JM, Cariss M et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Fluoxetine or cognitive-behavioral therapy for 6 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00338-0
Topics
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