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Premenstrual exacerbation of depression: one process or two?
1McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Premenstrual symptoms, including dysphoria, may persist even after successful treatment for major depression. Further research is needed to understand this complex relationship.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Premenstrual symptoms frequently co-occur with psychiatric disorders, especially affective disorders.
- The distinct diagnostic classification of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) separate from other psychiatric conditions remains a subject of debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between depression and premenstrual syndrome.
- To describe premenstrual syndrome symptoms in patients with major depression before and after mood disorder treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on depression and premenstrual syndrome.
- Case series analysis of 5 patients with premenstrual syndrome and major depression.
Main Results:
- Antidepressant treatment led to a reduction in overall symptom severity, with a statistically significant decrease observed only for dysphoria.
- In two patients, premenstrual syndrome symptoms became more pronounced after depression treatment, potentially due to improved underlying depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Premenstrual symptoms, such as irritability and dysphoric mood changes, can persist despite effective management of major depression.