Cohort study, 2005
Do women with PMDD have depression symptoms outside the luteal phase?
Yes. Even women with minor or moderate depression symptoms when not premenstrual were about 1.9 times more likely to have PMDD, suggesting PMDD is a variant of depression that becomes worse premenstrually rather than appearing only premenstrually.
What they did
A prospective study where women recorded their symptoms daily for at least 2 menstrual cycles. Then 43 women diagnosed with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (an earlier name for PMDD) and 85 women without it were interviewed using structured psychiatric interviews during the follicular phase. Only women without other psychiatric disorders were included.
What they found
Women with minor or moderate depression symptoms had an odds ratio of 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4, p<0.001) for PMDD per 1-point increase on a depression scale. For emotional and affective symptoms, the odds ratio was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.3, p=0.003). For sleep and appetite changes, the odds ratio was 3.3 (95% CI 1.9-5.9, p<0.001).
What it means for you
Women with PMDD likely have an underlying depression tendency that becomes worse during the luteal phase due to hormonal changes, rather than having depression appear only premenstrually. This finding could guide prevention and treatment. Main limitations include no hormone measurements and a non-longitudinal design.
1.9
odds ratio for depression and PMDD
3.3
odds ratio for sleep/appetite symptoms
43
women with PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Symptoms of depression in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: a variant of mood disorder?
- Authors
- De Ronchi D, Ujkaj M, Boaron F et al.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 85
- What was tested
- Prospective daily symptom recording for at least 2 cycles and structured psychiatric interviews
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2005.01.013
Topics
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