Systematic review, 2012
Do women with both bipolar disorder and PMS or PMDD need different treatment?
Yes. Women with both conditions have more severe symptoms, more frequent relapses, and worse responses to treatment. They need special care that tracks their menstrual cycle.
What they did
Systematic review of 17 articles published from 1987 to February 2012. Researchers searched medical databases for studies on women who have both bipolar disorder and PMS or PMDD to understand the overlap between these conditions.
What they found
PMS and PMDD were most common in women with bipolar disorder type II (BD-II). Women with PMS or PMDD also had an increased risk of having bipolar disorder type I (BD-I). Bipolar women sensitive to hormonal changes showed more severe symptoms, more frequent relapses, and responded worse to treatment.
What it means for you
Women with both bipolar disorder and PMS or PMDD need careful diagnosis and treatment. Doctors should track menstrual cycle dates and compare symptom intensity between menstrual phases. Using continuous contraceptives to stabilize hormones might help reduce severity.
17
articles reviewed
1987-2012
publication years covered
About the study
- Original title
- Bipolar disorder and Premenstrual Syndrome or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder comorbidity: a systematic review
- Authors
- Cirillo PC, Passos RB, Bevilaqua MC et al.
- Journal
- Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Systematic review
- What was tested
- None tested - this reviews the connection between the conditions
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.rbp.2012.04.010
Topics
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