Survey study, 2004
How often does depression get worse before a woman's period?
Depressed women had 1.34 more symptoms that got worse before their period compared to other times. Older women were more likely to experience worsening symptoms.
What they did
Cross-sectional study. 900 menstruating women ages 13 to 53 from Illinois completed psychiatric interviews and rated depression symptoms daily for two menstrual cycles. 58 women had depressive disorders and 842 were not depressed.
What they found
Depressed women had 1.34 symptoms that became worse premenstrually. Older women more often had symptoms worsen. Symptoms during the follicular phase were most severe for clinically depressed women, intermediate for subclinically depressed, and least severe for non-depressed. Only 56% of non-depressed women taking antidepressants were symptom-free all month; 44% still had symptoms premenstrually.
What it means for you
Premenstrual worsening of depression happens in some depressed women and is more common with older age. The study was limited to one U.S. state and does not explain why worsening happens.
900
Total women studied
1.34
Average extra symptoms worsening premenstrually
56%
Non-depressed women on antidepressants symptom-free all month
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual exacerbation of depressive disorders in a community-based sample in the United States
- Authors
- Hartlage SA, Brandenburg DL, Kravitz HM
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 900
- What was tested
- None. Some women were taking antidepressants.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000138131.92408.b9
Topics
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