Randomised trial, 1997
Are body temperature rhythms different in women with PMDD, and does partial sleep deprivation help?
Women with PMDD had different body temperature patterns across the cycle and responded differently to partial sleep deprivation than control women. The evidence is moderate because it comes from a controlled study, but only 23 women with PMDD were studied.
What they did
Randomized crossover study. 23 women with PMDD and 18 normal controls had 24-hour body temperature measured during the early and late cycle phases. They then had partial sleep deprivation in separate cycles: sleeping from 3am to 7am (early), sleeping from 9pm to 1am (late), or a full recovery night (10:30pm to 6:30am).
What they found
Temperature amplitudes were lower in the late cycle phase than in the early phase in both groups. In PMDD women, early sleep deprivation delayed the peak temperature time while late sleep deprivation advanced it. In control women, the opposite happened. Recovery sleep restored temperature rhythm amplitude.
What it means for you
PMDD may involve changes in how body temperature rhythms shift throughout the day, and partial sleep deprivation may help by correcting these patterns. The study is small and from 1997, so results need confirmation. It is unclear whether temperature changes actually improve symptoms.
23
women with PMDD
18
normal control women
24 hours
duration of temperature measurement
About the study
- Original title
- Temperature circadian rhythms during the menstrual cycle and sleep deprivation in premenstrual dysphoric disorder and normal comparison subjects
- Authors
- Parry BL, LeVeau B, Mostofi N et al.
- Journal
- Journal of biological rhythms
- Year
- 1997
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 23
- What was tested
- Early partial sleep deprivation (3am to 7am), late partial sleep deprivation (9pm to 1am), and full recovery sleep
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/074873049701200106
Topics
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