Survey study, 1989
Do mood disorders affect premenstrual depression and attention across the cycle?
Only 8 of 16 women with a mood disorder history actually had premenstrual depression when tracked daily. Those who did showed worse mood premenstrually, but both groups showed the same attention patterns in both phases.
What they did
16 women with a history of affective (mood) disorder rated their symptoms daily during one menstrual cycle and were assessed on measures of mood and selective attention both before and after their menstrual phase.
What they found
Prospective daily tracking confirmed premenstrual depression in only 8 of the 16 subjects. These 8 demonstrated significant premenstrual elevation in dysphoric (negative) mood. However, both the 8 with confirmed premenstrual depression and the 8 without showed a dysphoric attentional bias in both the premenstrual and postmenstrual phases.
What it means for you
Having a mood disorder history does not automatically mean a woman will have premenstrual depression. The attention patterns measured did not change across the cycle or differ based on having premenstrual depression, suggesting mood disorder and premenstrual depression may not interact along this cognitive dimension. The study tracked only one cycle in a very small group.
16
women with mood disorder history
8
confirmed premenstrual depression
1
menstrual cycle tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual depression in women with a history of affective disorder: mood and attentional processes
- Authors
- McMillan MJ, Ghadirian AM, Pihl RO
- Journal
- Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/070674378903400809
Topics
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