Cohort study, 2008
Do women with PMDD have different startle and sensory responses during the menstrual cycle?
Yes, women with PMDD have higher startle responses throughout the menstrual cycle and reduced sensory filtering specifically during the late luteal phase, compared to controls.
What they did
After two months of prospective daily symptom ratings, 30 women with PMDD and 30 controls aged 20-46 underwent acoustic startle testing. They heard loud noise bursts alone and with warning stimuli. Eye blink responses were measured using electromyography during both the follicular and late luteal phases.
What they found
Women with PMDD had significantly higher startle response than controls during both menstrual cycle phases (p<0.05). Women with PMDD also showed lower sensory filtering with higher-volume warning stimuli during the late luteal phase compared to controls (p<0.01), but not in the follicular phase. Control women showed increased sensory filtering during the late luteal phase, but this increase did not occur in women with PMDD.
What it means for you
Women with PMDD appear to have exaggerated startle responses and impaired sensory filtering during the late luteal phase, which may relate to anxiety in PMDD. The study used a specific neurophysiological test in a relatively small group, so findings may not apply to all women with PMDD.
30
Women with PMDD
30
Control women
115 dB
Acoustic startle stimulus loudness
About the study
- Original title
- Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder have increased startle response across both cycle phases and lower levels of prepulse inhibition during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Kask K, Gulinello M, Bäckström T et al.
- Journal
- Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 86
- What was tested
- None; observational neurophysiological testing during follicular and late luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1301599
Topics
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