Cohort study, 2019
Do SSRIs help women who have both PMS and panic disorder?
Yes. After six months of SSRI treatment, most symptoms improved though they persisted in reduced form. About 40 percent of women recovered completely.
What they did
A study following 30 women diagnosed with both PMS and panic disorder. They received SSRI medication for six months and were assessed before and after treatment.
What they found
Before treatment, the most common symptoms were irritability, mood swings, anxiety, breast tension and tenderness, appetite changes, headaches, heart palpitations, and abdominal bloating. Physical symptoms were more than twice as common as psychological symptoms. After six months, most symptoms were still present but less severe. 40 percent of women recovered completely.
What it means for you
SSRIs can help treat both PMS and panic disorder when they occur together. Women are likely to improve but may not return to normal. Physical symptoms like bloating and heart palpitations are more common than emotional symptoms in this group. The main limit is the small sample of 30 women.
30
women studied
6
months of treatment
40%
women who recovered completely
About the study
- Original title
- Clinical Characteristics of Premenstrual Syndrome/Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Co-Morbid with Panic Disorder and the Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Its Treatment
- Authors
- Rossitza K. Iakimova, Daniil Aptalidis, Milena S. Pandova et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Research
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- SSRI medication for six months
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2478/jbcr-2019-0006
Topics
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