Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) affect a large number of women of childbearing age. 30-80% of reproductive age women experience premenstrual symptoms. PMS refers to a pattern of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms occurring 1-2 weeks before menses and remitting with the onset of menses. Common symptoms include fatigue, poor concentration, mild [...]
Tag Archives: PMDD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Premenstrual Syndromes: A Review of the Literature
April 6, 2009 – 9:23 am
Significant numbers of reproductive-aged women experience premenstrual syndromes characterized by depressed mood, irritability, mood swings, anxiety or tension, sleep disruption, and other physical symptoms, including bloating and breast tenderness. Typically these symptoms emerge during the week preceding menstruation, improve with the onset of menses, and are not present during the week after menstruation. When a [...]
Do Oral Contraceptives Cause Mood Changes?
May 1, 2008 – 10:59 am
Many women have concerns about the side effects of oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Potential side effects include bloating, breast tenderness, and weight gain. In addition, some women may experience depression or mood swings, side effects that may influence a woman’s decision to start taking a birth control pill, particularly if she has a history [...]
New Research Study at CWMH: Treatment of Premenstrual Worsening of Depression
February 15, 2008 – 10:38 am
Seeking women between 18-45 with PMS who have been diagnosed with depression. If you are between 18 and 45 and: Suffer with PMS Currently being treated with an antidepressant You may be eligible for a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital evaluating how a birth control pill helps with premenstrual mood symptoms. Women who participate [...]
Two MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health Physicians Featured in Elle Magazine
September 28, 2007 – 12:13 pm
Lee S. Cohen, MD, and Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc, shared their expertise in reproductive health and oral contraceptives (OC) for Elle magazine’s recent article, “Against the Flow.” The article discusses Lybrel, the first continuous OC approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This new birth control pill has received attention because its continual low [...]
Expert Guidelines for the Treatment of PMDD
August 31, 2007 – 5:45 pm
In this review, guidelines for the treatment of PMDD are provided. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely used pharmacologic agents for treating depression and anxiety disorders, and several have also emerged as first-line treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In numerous clinical trials, SSRIs have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the physical and [...]
Oral Contraceptives for the Treatment of Premenstrual Mood Symptoms in Women with Depression
June 14, 2005 – 12:20 pm
About 3-5% of women of reproductive age suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), where they experience depressive symptoms, anxiety or irritability during the last one to two weeks (the premenstrual phase) of their menstrual cycle. In addition, many women who suffer from depression, including those who have been effectively treated with an antidepressant, report worsening [...]
Alternative Treatments for PMS
May 6, 2001 – 1:58 pm
During the two weeks prior to the onset of a menstrual period, many women experience physical symptoms, such as bloating, breast tenderness, headache, and muscle aches. A small proportion of women also note a change in their mood and complain of irritability, mood swings, depressed mood, or feeling tense. If these symptoms interfere with a [...]
Intermittent Dosing of SSRIs for PMS
April 6, 2000 – 11:32 am
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs have been shown to be effective for the treatment of premenstrual symptoms. These medications are not only useful for treating the irritability, depression and anxiety that occur during the 1-2 weeks before the menstrual period but may also help alleviate some of the physical symptoms of PMS. Initially, SSRIs [...]
