--- title: Does a brain chemical relate to depression that worsens before periods in women with major depression? description: Yes, during the premenstrual phase. Women with worse depression had lower levels of GABA (a brain chemical) in a specific brain region, but only when tested j url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/posterior-cingulate-gaba-levels-are-associated-with-depression-severity-during-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a brain chemical relate to depression that worsens before periods in women with major depression? Survey study, 2026 # Does a brain chemical relate to depression that worsens before periods in women with major depression? Yes, during the premenstrual phase. Women with worse depression had lower levels of GABA (a brain chemical) in a specific brain region, but only when tested just before their period. Early or limited evidence 31 unmedicated women with major depressive disorder ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 31 unmedicated women with major depressive disorder. Researchers measured GABA levels in two brain regions using MRI scanning and assessed depression and anxiety symptoms at different points in the menstrual cycle. ## What they found Lower GABA concentrations in the posterior cingulate cortex (a brain region) were associated with more severe depression. This relationship was only observed when women were assessed during the premenstrual phase, not during other phases of the cycle. ## What it means for you Brain chemistry may help explain why some women's depression worsens before their period. However, this is a very small study of women not taking medication, so we cannot know if findings apply to women on antidepressants or other groups. The study is too preliminary to guide treatment. 31 Unmedicated women with major depression 2 Brain regions measured with MRI ## About the study Original title Posterior cingulate GABA levels are associated with depression severity during the premenstrual phase in women Authors Flores-Ramos M, Osorio-Durán R, Saavedra EM et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2026 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121396](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121396) Original abstract Background: Fluctuations in depressive symptoms across the menstrual cycle occur in some women, with a pronounced intensification during the luteal phase. Given that the GABAergic system is modulated by neurosteroids, alterations within this system may contribute to mood regulation in women with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Methods: We investigated the association between gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the posterior and anterior cingulate cortex (PCC and ACC) and depressive symptoms in relation to menstrual cycle phase. Thirty-one unmedicated women diagnosed with MDD were evaluated. Clinical variables including depressive and anxiety symptomatology and prior depression history were assessed. GABA concentrations were quantified using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS). Results: PCC_GABA concentrations were significantly associated with the severity of the current depressive episode, with lower PCC_GABA concentrations in women with higher depression scores. When analyses were stratified by menstrual phase, this association was observed only among participants assessed during the premenstrual phase. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PCC_GABA concentrations are associated with depressive symptom severity in unmedicated women during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. Further research is warranted to elucidate the neurosteroid-mediated modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Survey study, 2008 Do hormone changes during the premenstrual phase relate to mood symptoms in women with mood disorders? Cohort study, 2023 Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders? Study, 2026 What treatments work for PMDD? Review, 2025 How do hormone changes across the menstrual cycle affect mood and behavior in psychiatric disorders? Case-control study, 2024 How does PMDD affect how women understand and feel what others are experiencing? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗