--- title: Can mood disorder symptoms happen only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? description: One woman had cycles of high mood followed by low mood that happened only during the second half of her menstrual cycle, repeating each month. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/1824-menstrually-related-cyclothymia-a-case-report-2013/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can mood disorder symptoms happen only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? Case report, 2013 # Can mood disorder symptoms happen only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? One woman had cycles of high mood followed by low mood that happened only during the second half of her menstrual cycle, repeating each month. Early or limited evidence 42-year-old woman ## What they did Case report of a 42-year-old woman whose mood episodes happened only during the second half of her menstrual cycle, lasting 10 to 12 days and resolving after menstruation started. These episodes occurred in almost every menstrual cycle since she was 20 years old. Doctors did blood tests and hormone tests, which were normal. She was treated with lamotrigine. ## What they found For 4 to 5 days, she had high mood, rapid speech, increased sexual desire, active thinking, and restless energy. Then for 6 to 7 days, she had irritable and depressive mood, fatigue, sleeping more, tearfulness, low self-esteem, and negative thinking. She also had migraines and binge-eating during the low mood phase. Treatment with lamotrigine 200 mg/day improved her symptoms. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle can trigger mood changes in some women that may look like PMDD but might be a different condition. The exact connection between PMDD and other mood conditions is not yet clear. 10-12 days duration of each mood episode 200 mg/day lamotrigine dose 42 patient's age ## About the study Original title 1824 – Menstrually Related Cyclothymia: a Case Report Authors Μαρία Σκώκου, Philippos Gourzis Journal European Psychiatry Year 2013 Study design Case report What was tested Lamotrigine 200 mg/day Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(13)76789-0](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(13)76789-0) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2023 Does the menstrual cycle affect how often women have suicidal thoughts? Cohort study, 2004 Do women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing medication experience premenstrual symptom worsening? Randomised trial, 1994 Does alprazolam help women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder? Case report, 2024 How is PMDD diagnosed and treated in teenagers? Survey study, 2023 How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗