Case-control study, 2011
Do women with PMDD have different brain activity patterns?
Yes, women with PMDD show a brain activity pattern similar to people with depression, with less activity on the left side of the front part of the brain. This suggests PMDD and depression may share similar brain vulnerability factors.
What they did
The study measured brain electrical activity at rest using EEG in 25 women with PMDD symptoms and 25 matched women without it. They tested them 4 times over a 2-week period.
What they found
Women with PMDD had relatively less activity on the left side compared to the right side in the front part of the brain, consistent with patterns seen in depression. This pattern was found across several brain locations.
What it means for you
Brain activity differences in PMDD might help researchers understand why some women develop PMDD. The main limitation is the small sample size (25 versus 25), so findings need confirmation in larger studies.
25
Women with PMDD
25
Control women
2 weeks
Study duration
About the study
- Original title
- Prefrontal brain asymmetry and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder symptomatology
- Authors
- Accortt EE, Stewart JL, Coan JA et al.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 25
- What was tested
- Brain activity measurement via EEG
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.07.017
Topics
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