---
title: Are hormone rhythms different in women with PMDD, and are they corrected by partial sleep deprivation?
description: Women with PMDD had higher prolactin levels and earlier TSH peak timing than normal women. Partial sleep deprivation changed these hormones, but these changes
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/circadian-rhythms-of-prolactin-and-thyroid-stimulating-hormone-during-the-1996/
---

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- Are hormone rhythms different in women with PMDD, and are they corrected by partial sleep deprivation?

Randomised trial, 1996

# Are hormone rhythms different in women with PMDD, and are they corrected by partial sleep deprivation?

Women with PMDD had higher prolactin levels and earlier TSH peak timing than normal women. Partial sleep deprivation changed these hormones, but these changes did not appear to explain how sleep deprivation helped PMDD symptoms. The evidence is moderate but based on a small study.

 Moderate study design

23 women with PMDD and 18 normal volunteers

## What they did

Randomized crossover study. 23 women with PMDD and 18 normal volunteers had blood drawn every 30 minutes from 6pm to 9am during the early and late cycle phases. They then had partial sleep deprivation in separate cycles: sleeping from 3am to 7am (early) or 9pm to 1am (late).

## What they found

PMDD women had higher prolactin levels and earlier TSH peak timing than normal women. Sleep deprivation lowered prolactin and raised TSH. Late sleep deprivation shifted prolactin peak timing earlier, and early sleep deprivation shifted it later. However, the researchers found that these hormone changes do not explain why sleep deprivation helps PMDD symptoms.

## What it means for you

PMDD involves differences in hormone timing and levels, but sleep deprivation may help through other biological mechanisms not measured by just looking at prolactin and TSH. The study is small and from 1996, so results need confirmation.

23

women with PMDD

18

normal volunteers

30 minutes

interval between blood samples

## About the study

Original title Circadian rhythms of prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone during the menstrual cycle and early versus late sleep deprivation in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Parry BL, Hauger R, LeVeau B et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 1996 Study design Randomised trial Participants 23 What was tested Early sleep deprivation (3am to 7am) or late sleep deprivation (9pm to 1am) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(96)02905-8](https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(96)02905-8)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Thyroid disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-thyroid/)

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