---
title: Do antidepressants help premenstrual symptoms in women with depression?
description: Yes. After 12 weeks, at least two-thirds of women taking imipramine or phenelzine had essentially no premenstrual problems, compared to half of those taking p
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-symptoms-in-depressed-women-1991/
---

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- Do antidepressants help premenstrual symptoms in women with depression?

Randomised trial, 1991

# Do antidepressants help premenstrual symptoms in women with depression?

Yes. After 12 weeks, at least two-thirds of women taking imipramine or phenelzine had essentially no premenstrual problems, compared to half of those taking placebo.

 Moderate study design

Women with atypical depression who had responded to depression treatment

## What they did

This study compared imipramine, phenelzine, and placebo for premenstrual symptoms in women with atypical depression who had already responded to depression treatment. Symptoms were rated using the Premenstrual Assessment Form. The study lasted 12 weeks.

## What they found

At least two-thirds of women on active medication showed improvement such that they had essentially no premenstrual problems after treatment. Half of women in the placebo group showed similar improvement.

## What it means for you

Antidepressants appear to help premenstrual symptoms in women with depression better than placebo. However, the study does not report the exact sample size or statistical significance values. These results apply to women who have both depression and PMS.

12

weeks study duration

2/3

on medication showed improvement

1/2

on placebo showed improvement

## About the study

Original title Treatment of premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in depressed women Authors Glick R, Harrison W, Endicott J et al. Journal Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (1972) Year 1991 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Imipramine and phenelzine Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1744374/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1744374/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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## Related studies

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