Cohort study, 2015
Can brain scans explain what happens in the brain during PMDD?
Brain scans show some short-term changes in brain structure and activity linked to hormone shifts across the cycle, but there are too few well-designed studies to draw firm conclusions yet.
What they did
This is a review article that looked back over existing brain-imaging studies (like MRI and PET scans) of the menstrual cycle and of women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), to summarise what is known so far.
What they found
The review found evidence that the brain's structure and function can change over the menstrual cycle in response to hormone shifts. However, there were very few studies, and the findings that do exist are inconsistent and come from studies with design weaknesses.
What it means for you
Researchers do not yet have a clear picture of how the brain changes in PMDD. The authors call for bigger, better-designed studies that scan women at specific points in the cycle alongside hormone and genetic testing. There is no new data here, just a summary of past research, so no practical advice can be drawn yet.
About the study
- Original title
- Neuroimaging the Menstrual Cycle and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Authors
- Comasco E, Sundström-Poromaa I
- Journal
- Current psychiatry reports
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0619-4
Topics
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