Case report, 1978
Can psychosis come back regularly with the menstrual cycle?
Yes, in these 7 women, psychosis came back regularly with their menstrual cycle. A change in brain chemicals linked to the menstrual cycle might be involved, possibly triggered by emotional stress or other causes.
What they did
The researchers describe 7 women who had psychosis that came back regularly in connection with their menstrual cycle. They examined when the condition started, what symptoms each woman had, emotional factors, hormone levels, and brain wave patterns.
What they found
All 7 women had psychosis that regularly came back in close association with their menstrual cycle. They shared some common features: similar age of onset and similar patterns of symptoms. The researchers suggest that brain chemicals that change during the menstrual cycle may be disturbed by emotional stress or unknown causes, which could trigger the psychiatric symptoms.
What it means for you
Psychosis can be linked to the menstrual cycle in some women. The brain chemistry that naturally changes with the cycle might play a role, but the exact causes aren't clear. The main limit is that this describes only 7 women's experiences, with no comparison group.
7
women with cyclic psychosis
About the study
- Original title
- Periodic psychosis recurring in association with menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Endo M, Daiguji M, Asano Y et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical psychiatry
- Year
- 1978
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- None - observation only
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/565354/
Topics
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