---
title: Do women with premenstrual depression have different brain chemistry responses?
description: Yes. Women with premenstrual depression had smaller growth hormone and cortisol responses to a chemical test throughout their cycle, suggesting abnormal brain
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/blunting-of-neuroendocrine-responses-to-infusion-of-l-tryptophan-in-women-with-1991/
---

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- Do women with premenstrual depression have different brain chemistry responses?

Study, 1991

# Do women with premenstrual depression have different brain chemistry responses?

Yes. Women with premenstrual depression had smaller growth hormone and cortisol responses to a chemical test throughout their cycle, suggesting abnormal brain chemistry that may interact with normal cycle changes.

 Early or limited evidence

26 women (13 with premenstrual depression, 13 without)

## What they did

Researchers tested how 13 women with premenstrual depression and 13 without responded to an infusion of L-tryptophan at two times in their cycle: before and after their period.

## What they found

Women with premenstrual depression had smaller growth hormone and cortisol responses than women without it on both occasions. The prolactin response was blunted premenstrually compared to postmenstrually in both groups.

## What it means for you

Women with premenstrual depression may have abnormal brain chemistry throughout their entire cycle, not just before their period. This abnormality may make them more vulnerable to depression when normal premenstrual changes happen. The study was very small.

13

women with premenstrual depression

13

women without premenstrual depression

2

cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Blunting of neuroendocrine responses to infusion of L-tryptophan in women with perimenstrual mood change Authors Bancroft J, Cook A, Davidson D et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 1991 Study design Study Participants 13 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700020407](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700020407)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Systematic review, 2025

Do people with PMDD and severe PMS have difficulties with emotion regulation?

Cohort study, 2025

How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?

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