Case report, 2012
How can doctors tell the difference between severe PMS and bipolar disorder?
Doctors can tell the difference by looking for symptoms that clearly follow the menstrual cycle and improve during pregnancy. These patterns occur in severe PMS but not in bipolar disorder, and severe PMS doesn't respond to antidepressants or mood-stabilizing medications used for bipolar disorder.
What they did
Case discussion of how to distinguish between severe PMS and bipolar disorder in young women.
What they found
Women with severe PMS have symptoms that follow their menstrual cycle and improve during pregnancy. Physical symptoms include breast tenderness, bloating and headaches. Their hormone levels are normal. They do not respond to medications typically prescribed for bipolar disorder.
What it means for you
Getting the right diagnosis is critical because these conditions need very different treatments. The main limit is that this is a single case discussion, not evidence from a large study.
About the study
- Original title
- Severe premenstrual syndrome and bipolar disorder: a tragic confusion
- Authors
- Studd J
- Journal
- Menopause international
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- None (this is about correct diagnosis).
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1258/mi.2012.012018
Topics
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