Non-randomised trial, 1998
Is the stress hormone cortisol different in women with premenstrual depression?
Yes, but opposite to regular depression. Women with severe premenstrual depression had low cortisol levels before the period, similar to seasonal depression, while women with mild symptoms had high cortisol.
What they did
Researchers measured cortisol (a stress hormone) hourly on a day before the period and a day after the period in women who experienced different severity levels of premenstrual mood changes.
What they found
Women with only mild premenstrual mood changes had significantly higher cortisol on the premenstrual day compared to the postmenstrual day. Women with more significant premenstrual depression showed the opposite pattern, with significantly lower cortisol on the premenstrual day. These women also had lower evening cortisol during the premenstrual phase overall. Unlike major depression with high cortisol, premenstrual depression involves low cortisol activity, similar to seasonal affective disorder.
What it means for you
Premenstrual depression works differently from regular depression at a biological level, involving low rather than high stress hormone activity. This suggests different treatment approaches might be needed. The study was not randomized and the sample size is unclear.
2
premenstrual symptom severity groups
hourly
cortisol measurement frequency
About the study
- Original title
- Salivary cortisol in women with and without perimenstrual mood changes
- Authors
- Odber J, Cawood EH, Bancroft J
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3999(98)00061-0
Topics
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