Case report, 1984
Can oral contraceptives help treat premenstrual depression?
Yes. One 20-year-old woman was successfully treated for both premenstrual depression and a major depression using an oral contraceptive.
What they did
A 20-year-old woman with recurrent premenstrual depression and a major depressive episode was treated with an oral contraceptive.
What they found
The oral contraceptive successfully treated her premenstrual depression and her subsequent major depressive episode.
What it means for you
This case suggests oral contraceptives may help some women with premenstrual depression. The main limit is that this is only one woman, so we cannot know if the treatment works for others.
1
woman treated
20
age in years
About the study
- Original title
- Possible antidepressant effect of oral contraceptives: case report
- Authors
- Roy-Byrne P, Rubinow DR, Gold PW et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical psychiatry
- Year
- 1984
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6540262/
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2024
What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?
Survey study, 2011
Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression?
Study, 2026
What treatments work for PMDD?
Case report, 2023
Can stopping ovulation help severe PMDD when other treatments do not work?
Study, 2022
What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD?
Randomised trial, 2017
Does adding birth control to antidepressants help depression that worsens before your period?