--- title: Do women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing medication experience premenstrual symptom worsening? description: No, women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing treatment (lithium or valproate) experienced significantly less premenstrual symptom worsening than health url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrually-related-symptom-changes-in-women-with-treatment-responsive-bipolar-2004/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing medication experience premenstrual symptom worsening? Cohort study, 2004 # Do women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing medication experience premenstrual symptom worsening? No, women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing treatment (lithium or valproate) experienced significantly less premenstrual symptom worsening than healthy women, suggesting the medication may protect against it. Moderate study design 34 women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizers and 35 healthy controls, ages 18-35 ## What they did Researchers followed 34 women with bipolar disorder and 35 healthy control women for at least two consecutive menstrual cycles. Women recorded daily symptoms using a symptom tracking form (DRSP). Blood samples were collected to confirm ovulation. ## What they found Healthy control women reported more symptom changes than women with bipolar disorder. More controls showed a 30% change in symptoms and greater increases in depressive and attention-related symptoms from the postmenstrual to premenstrual phase. Both groups showed a significant menstrual cycle effect overall. ## What it means for you Mood-stabilizing medications like lithium and valproate may help prevent premenstrual symptom worsening in women with bipolar disorder. However, the study included only women already stable on medication, so results may not apply to all women with bipolar disorder. 34 Women with bipolar disorder 35 Healthy control women 30% Symptom change threshold measured ## About the study Original title Menstrually related symptom changes in women with treatment-responsive bipolar disorder Authors Karadag F, Akdeniz F, Erten E et al. Journal Bipolar disorders Year 2004 Study design Cohort study Participants 35 What was tested Mood-stabilizing treatment (lithium and/or valproate for at least 6 months) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-5618.2004.00112.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-5618.2004.00112.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Case report, 2013 Can mood disorder symptoms happen only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? Case report, 2013 Can severe mood changes around a period be an early sign of bipolar disorder? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Survey study, 2026 What is the true rate of PMDD, and does it worsen mental health conditions? Cohort study, 2022 Do women with both bipolar disorder and PMDD have worse biological rhythm disruptions? Review, 2014 Does the menstrual cycle affect mood episodes in women with bipolar disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗