Depressive mood and frontal alpha asymmetry during the luteal phase in premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) experience moderate to severe physical and mood symptoms during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. The purposes of this study were to examine whether there were significant differences in frontal alpha asymmetry between PMDD and non-PMDD women during a depressive induction condition during the luteal and follicular phases and to examine the relations between premenstrual distress and depressive symptoms, and frontal alpha asymmetry.

The participants included 12 college women with PMDD and 12 without PMDD as controls. Frontal electroencephalograms (F3/F4) were measured during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in the following sequence: resting baseline, depressive induction, depressive recall, recovery, and relaxation. Premenstrual distress questionnaires and the Beck Depression Inventory II were administered.

The participants with PMDD had higher frontal alpha asymmetry than those without PMDD during the depressive induction and relaxation conditions only during the luteal phase. For PMDD and non-PMDD during the luteal phase, a positive correlation was observed between negative affect (measured by premenstrual distress questionnaires) and frontal alpha asymmetry under the depressive induction stage. In addition, higher Beck Depression Inventory II somatic depression was positively correlated with frontal alpha asymmetry under the depressive induction stage.

This study supports the significant difference between PMDD and non-PMDD on frontal alpha asymmetry, and frontal alpha asymmetry was related to negative affect and somatic depression, while participants with PMDD were in the depressive mood during the luteal phase.