Serotonin uptake inhibitors provide rapid relief from premenstrual dysphoria. new findings shed light on how serotonin modulates sex hormone-related behavior
Eriksson, E.; Andersch, B.; Ho, H.P.; Landén, M.; Sundblad, C.
Lakartidningen 98(34): 3524-3530
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 11571794 Document Number: 539986
Premenstrual dysphoria (PMD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, afflicting 5-10% of all women. The cardinal symptom--surfacing between ovulation and menstruation, and disappearing within a few days after the onset of the bleeding--is irritability. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), but not non-serotonergic antidepressants, reduce the symptoms of PMD very effectively. Since the, onset of action of SRIs is rapid when used for PMD, medication may be restricted to the luteal phase. The finding that SRIs are effective for PMD lends support for the hypothesis that a major role for brain serotonin is to modulate sex steroid-driven behavior.