---
title: Is low brain serotonin linked to mood problems in premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
description: In women with premenstrual dysphoria, mood symptoms like irritability and depression worsen when brain serotonin levels drop before their period, suggesting s
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-changes-correlate-to-changes-in-brain-serotonin-precursor-trapping-in-women-2006/
---

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- Is low brain serotonin linked to mood problems in premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Survey study, 2006

# Is low brain serotonin linked to mood problems in premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

In women with premenstrual dysphoria, mood symptoms like irritability and depression worsen when brain serotonin levels drop before their period, suggesting serotonin plays a role in PMDD. This supports why serotonin-boosting drugs help these symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

8 women with premenstrual dysphoria

## What they did

A study of 8 women with premenstrual dysphoria who had positron emission tomography brain scans during the follicular phase (early cycle) and premenstrual phase to measure serotonin levels. Participants also rated their mood and physical symptoms daily.

## What they found

Worsening of irritability and depressed mood showed strong inverse associations with lower brain serotonin levels (irritability r = -0.83, depressed mood r = -0.81). Positive mood improved with higher serotonin. Physical symptoms showed weak or no association with serotonin changes.

## What it means for you

The link between low serotonin and worse mood in PMDD is supported by these findings, which helps explain why serotonin-boosting medications work. However, this is a very small study, so results are preliminary and need confirmation in larger groups.

8

women with premenstrual dysphoria

-0.83

correlation between lower serotonin and irritability

-0.81

correlation between lower serotonin and depressed mood

## About the study

Original title Mood changes correlate to changes in brain serotonin precursor trapping in women with premenstrual dysphoria Authors Eriksson O, Wall A, Marteinsdottir I et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 2006 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2005.02.012](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2005.02.012)

## 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/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Systematic review, 2026

How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect?

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