Case-control study, 2016
Do women with PMDD respond differently to allopregnanolone across the menstrual cycle?
Yes, women with PMDD show an opposite pattern of brain response to injected allopregnanolone across the cycle compared to healthy women, with stronger effects in the luteal phase, suggesting altered sensitivity to this hormone.
What they did
Ten women with PMDD and 10 healthy controls received intravenous injections of allopregnanolone (0.05 mg/kg) once during the mid-follicular phase and once during the luteal phase. Eye movement speed was measured before and after injection as a marker of brain GABA receptor activity.
What they found
There was a highly significant group by phase interaction in the eye movement response to allopregnanolone. In PMDD women, eye movement response was decreased in the follicular phase compared to the luteal phase. In controls, the pattern was opposite. This indicates different sensitivity to the hormone across the cycle between groups.
What it means for you
Women with PMDD may have altered sensitivity to allopregnanolone, showing different brain responses depending on cycle phase compared to healthy women. This could explain why PMDD symptoms worsen during the luteal phase, but this is a very small study (20 women) requiring confirmation.
10
women with PMDD
10
healthy controls
0.05 mg/kg
allopregnanolone dose
About the study
- Original title
- Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder have altered sensitivity to allopregnanolone over the menstrual cycle compared to controls-a pilot study
- Authors
- Timby E, Bäckström T, Nyberg S et al.
- Journal
- Psychopharmacology
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 10
- What was tested
- Intravenous allopregnanolone 0.05 mg/kg during mid-follicular and luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4258-1
Topics
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