Interview study, 2020
How should doctors treat PMDD in women who also have bipolar disorder?
Very few studies exist on this combination, making treatment challenging. The evidence suggests treating bipolar disorder first with mood stabilizers, then addressing PMDD symptoms separately, but this is based on treating each condition alone rather than research on both together.
What they did
Researchers reviewed published studies on treating PMDD in women who also have bipolar disorder. They searched medical databases and found only 4 studies that met their criteria, then combined these findings with general knowledge about treating each condition separately.
What they found
Only 4 published studies exist on treating both conditions together. The review suggests: first, stabilize bipolar symptoms with mood stabilizers. Once mood is stable, treat PMDD with hormonal birth control or consider antidepressants. During acute bipolar episodes, antipsychotics or hormone modulators might help alongside mood stabilizers. The review notes that combined treatment strategies or lifestyle changes may be needed for difficult cases.
What it means for you
This is based on only 4 previous studies, so doctors do not have strong evidence for treating this combination. They must piece together approaches from studies of each condition separately. Much more research specifically on women with both PMDD and bipolar disorder is needed to develop clear guidelines.
4
studies on both conditions
55
total records searched
About the study
- Original title
- Comorbid Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in Women with Bipolar Disorder: Management Challenges
- Authors
- Sepede G, Brunetti M, Di Giannantonio M
- Journal
- Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Interview study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s202881
Topics
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