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.
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
Topics
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