Cohort study, 2023
Does PMDD increase the risk of depression or bipolar disorder later?
Yes. Women with PMDD were 2.58 times more likely to develop depression and 2.50 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder compared to women without PMDD. These conditions also developed earlier in women with PMDD.
What they did
Cohort study using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database. Included 8,222 women with a diagnosis of PMDD and no history of depression or bipolar disorder, plus 32,888 matched control women without PMDD. Followed them over time to see who developed depression or bipolar disorder.
What they found
Women with PMDD were 2.58 times more likely to develop depression and 2.50 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder. Women with PMDD developed depression at average age 37.11 years versus 41.59 years for controls. Women with PMDD developed bipolar disorder at average age 35.59 years versus 42.02 years for controls. Time from enrollment to depression: 2.97 years for PMDD group versus 5.33 years for controls.
What it means for you
Women with PMDD should be aware they have a higher chance of developing depression or bipolar disorder, and these conditions may appear years earlier. Doctors should watch for mood disorders in women diagnosed with PMDD. This is from Taiwan, so results may not apply everywhere. The study is observational, so we cannot say PMDD causes these conditions.
2.58
times higher risk of depression
2.50
times higher risk of bipolar disorder
8,222
women with PMDD studied
About the study
- Original title
- Risks of major affective disorders following a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A nationwide longitudinal study
- Authors
- Li DJ, Tsai SJ, Bai YM et al.
- Journal
- Asian journal of psychiatry
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 8,222
- What was tested
- None. Observational study following women with existing diagnoses.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103355
Topics
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