--- title: Do women with PMDD have a serotonin problem in their brain? | Niyora description: Women with pure PMDD may have a serotonin dysfunction based on some brain chemistry measurements, though not all tests differed from healthy women. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/serotonergic-dysfunction-in-women-with-pure-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-is-1999/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have a serotonin problem in their brain? Case-control study, 1999 # Do women with PMDD have a serotonin problem in their brain? Women with pure PMDD may have a serotonin dysfunction based on some brain chemistry measurements, though not all tests differed from healthy women. Moderate study design 9 women with pure PMDD and 9 healthy control women ## What they did Case-control study comparing 9 women with pure PMDD to 9 healthy controls. Researchers tested serotonin function by giving a fenfluramine challenge drug and measuring prolactin and cortisol responses during the follicular phase and late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. ## What they found Prolactin response to fenfluramine was similar in both groups. However, women with PMDD showed a trend toward delayed response to the drug, and a significant negative correlation between prolactin and cortisol in the PMDD group but not in controls. Women with PMDD had significantly lower 3H-imipramine binding levels during the late luteal phase. ## What it means for you There may be an underlying serotonin problem in PMDD based on brain chemistry, but some test results were similar to healthy women, leaving uncertainty. The study was small with only 9 women per group, which limits confidence in the findings. 9 women with pure PMDD 9 healthy control women ## About the study Original title Serotonergic dysfunction in women with pure premenstrual dysphoric disorder: is the fenfluramine challenge test still relevant? Authors Steiner M, Yatham LN, Coote M et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 1999 Study design Case-control study What was tested Fenfluramine neuroendocrine challenge test Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00062-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00062-1) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does continuous paroxetine or birth control work better for PMDD? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗