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Survey study, 1986

Do women with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder have worse PMS symptoms?

Yes. Women with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder had more severe forms of PMS. Those with both conditions also tended to cycle more frequently.

Early or limited evidence 25 women with rapid-cycling bipolar affective disorder and 25 normal control women

What they did

Researchers evaluated PMS symptoms in 25 women with rapid-cycling bipolar affective disorder and compared them to 25 normal control women.

What they found

Women with rapid-cycling affective disorder had an increased tendency to have more severe forms of PMS. Patients with rapid-cycling disorders who also had more severe forms of PMS tended to cycle more frequently.

What it means for you

This suggests a possible link between rapid mood cycling in bipolar disorder and severe PMS, possibly through shared brain chemistry. The main limitations are the small sample size and cross-sectional design, which cannot prove cause and effect. This mainly applies to women with both bipolar disorder and PMS.

25

women with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder

25

normal control women

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual tension syndrome in rapid-cycling bipolar affective disorder
Authors
Price WA, DiMarzio L
Journal
The Journal of clinical psychiatry
Year
1986
Study design
Survey study
Participants
25
What was tested
Observational comparison study, no treatment tested

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