Non-randomised trial, 2004
Are depression and anxiety linked to estrogen and progesterone levels in women with PMDD?
No. This study found no significant correlations between depression or anxiety ratings and either hormone.
What they did
Researchers enrolled 43 Taiwanese women with PMDD and measured their blood estrogen and progesterone levels during one menstrual cycle. Depression and anxiety were assessed during the premenstrual phase (2-6 days before menses) and postmenstrual phase (days 7-11) using standard rating scales.
What they found
There were no statistically significant correlations between depression or anxiety ratings and estrogen or progesterone concentrations.
What it means for you
This suggests that mood symptoms in PMDD may not be simply caused by hormone level changes, though this was a small study in one country that tracked only one cycle.
43
women with PMDD
1
menstrual cycle tracked
About the study
- Original title
- No correlation of depression and anxiety to plasma estrogen and progesterone levels in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Hsiao CC, Liu CY, Hsiao MC
- Journal
- Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 43
- What was tested
- Measured plasma estrogen and progesterone levels
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2004.01308.x
Topics
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