Study, 2006
Do women with depression during perimenopause also have premenstrual symptoms?
Some do - about 21% of depressed perimenopausal women had premenstrual dysphoria compared to 3% of non-depressed women. However, not all depressed perimenopausal women have premenstrual symptoms.
What they did
70 depressed perimenopausal women and 35 non-depressed perimenopausal women reported their symptoms and tracked mood daily during one menstrual cycle.
What they found
26% of depressed and 9% of non-depressed women reported premenstrual symptoms, and 31% of depressed and 20% of non-depressed women showed cyclical mood changes. Only 21% of depressed and 3% of non-depressed women met criteria for premenstrual dysphoria. Self-reported symptoms did not reliably predict which women met full premenstrual dysphoria criteria.
What it means for you
Premenstrual dysphoria is more common in women with depression during perimenopause, but it is not present in all of them, and simply asking women about symptoms isn't reliable. Findings are limited to one menstrual cycle of tracking.
70
depressed perimenopausal women
35
non-depressed women
21%
depressed women with premenstrual dysphoria
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual symptoms and perimenopausal depression
- Authors
- Richards M, Rubinow DR, Daly RC et al.
- Journal
- The American journal of psychiatry
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 70
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.133
Topics
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