Review, 2002
What are the reproductive-related mood disorders and how are they connected?
Mood and anxiety disorders are more common in women around menstruation, after childbirth, and during perimenopause. They all appear linked to changes in ovarian hormones.
What they did
Review article discussing the diagnosis, symptoms, and causes of premenstrual, postpartum, and perimenopausal affective disorders.
What they found
Mood and anxiety disorders are more prevalent in reproductive-aged women and linked to hormonal and reproductive events. Premenstrual affective disorders include PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual exacerbation of existing mood or anxiety disorders. Postpartum disorders range from postpartum blues to postpartum depression with or without psychosis, plus anxiety disorders including panic, generalized anxiety, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Perimenopausal women have increased vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders. All share risk factors and are linked to exposure to the rise and fall of ovarian sex steroids.
What it means for you
If you are experiencing mood changes around your period, after having a baby, or approaching menopause, these are recognized medical conditions. Understanding the hormonal connection may help with diagnosis and treatment. This is a review synthesizing existing knowledge about these conditions.
About the study
- Original title
- The clinical nature and formal diagnosis of premenstrual, postpartum, and perimenopausal affective disorders
- Authors
- Rapkin AJ, Mikacich JA, Moatakef-Imani B et al.
- Journal
- Current psychiatry reports
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None - review of understanding and diagnosis
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0069-7
Topics
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