Survey study, 2017
What is the impact of having both bipolar disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Women with both conditions experience significantly worse bipolar illness: earlier onset, more rapid cycling, more mood episodes, and higher rates of anxiety disorders and other conditions. They also experience more severe symptoms during pregnancy and while taking oral contraceptives.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 1,099 women with bipolar disorder who participated in the STEP-BD (Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder). Psychiatric diagnoses were made using structured interviews, and PMDD was diagnosed using standard criteria. Female-specific mental health was assessed using self-report questionnaires.
What they found
Women with both bipolar disorder and PMDD had earlier onset of bipolar illness (p < 0.001), higher rates of rapid cycling (p = 0.039), more past-year hypo/manic episodes (p = 0.003), and more lifetime and past-year depressive episodes (p < 0.05). They also had higher rates of panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, substance abuse, and adult ADHD. Mood symptoms were more severe during pregnancy and while taking oral contraceptives (p < 0.001).
What it means for you
Having both PMDD and bipolar disorder is associated with worse overall illness and suggests that hormone sensitivity may affect both conditions. This was studied in women already being treated for bipolar disorder in a specialized program, so results may not apply to all women with bipolar disorder.
1,099
women with bipolar disorder studied
p < 0.001
earlier bipolar onset with PMDD
p = 0.039
higher rapid cycling rate with PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Increased illness burden in women with comorbid bipolar and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: data from 1 099 women from STEP-BD study
- Authors
- Slyepchenko A, Frey BN, Lafer B et al.
- Journal
- Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,099
- What was tested
- Examination of comorbid PMDD in women with bipolar disorder
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/acps.12797
Topics
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