Case-control study, 2005
Is the brain chemical serotonin different in women with premenstrual syndrome?
Yes. Women with PMS have significantly lower levels of serotonin receptors compared to healthy women, which might help explain why antidepressants work for PMS symptoms.
What they did
Case-control study comparing 31 women with PMS to 26 healthy women. Researchers measured serotonin receptor activity on blood cells using a technique called imipramine binding. Both groups completed the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.
What they found
Women with PMS had significantly lower numbers of serotonin receptors compared to healthy women (P = 0.003). They also had significantly higher depression scores (P = 0.001). However, there was no correlation between the level of serotonin receptors and depression scores (r = 0.100, P = 0.591).
What it means for you
There may be a serotonin abnormality in PMS that contributes to mood symptoms, which could explain why antidepressants help some women. However, the study is very small with only 31 women with PMS. The lack of correlation between serotonin receptor levels and depression suggests the relationship is more complex. Much more research is needed.
31
Women with PMS in the study
0.003
P-value for lower serotonin receptors in PMS
0.001
P-value for higher depression scores in PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Serotonergic activity and the Beck Depression Inventory in the premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Engin-Ustün Y, Ustün Y, Gürdal H et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of reproductive medicine
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 26
- What was tested
- None (observational measurement)
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15971481/
Topics
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