PMS and PMDD - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Metformin May Help to Treat Menstrual Irregularities in Women Treated with Antipsychotics

Menstrual irregularity is a common side effect of antipsychotic treatment in women, occurring more commonly in those treated with risperidone and the older antipsychotic medications. New research presented at the APA earlier this month indicated that the addition of metformin at 500 mg bid resolved menstrual irregularities in most women treated with antipsychotic medications. (Metformin is a medication used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes.) In addition, women receiving metformin lost an average 2.4 kg of weight after 6 months of treatment.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T15:29:58-04:00May 23rd, 2012|Infertility and Mental Health, PMS and PMDD|0 Comments

Insomnia Across the Female Life Cycle

In the July 2010 issue of Current Psychiatry, you will find a thorough review on the evaluation and treatment of insomnia in women across the life cycle. The bottom line is that many women experience insomnia during times of hormonal transition. The authors provide some useful guidelines for evaluating women who present with sleep problems (taken from Table 2):

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-13T11:32:00-04:00October 12th, 2010|Menopausal Symptoms, PMS and PMDD, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

Premenstrual Syndromes: What is the Optimal Duration of Treatment?

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 mood changes, headaches, abdominal bloating, and breast tenderness.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T15:32:28-04:00December 21st, 2009|PMS and PMDD|2 Comments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Premenstrual Syndromes: A Review of the Literature

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.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:18:14-04:00April 6th, 2009|PMS and PMDD|1 Comment

Bipolar Disorder and PMS

Premenstrual worsening of mood is common among women with depression, but little is known about how often women with bipolar disorder experience worsening of their mood premenstrually. In a study by Payne et al. (2007), premenstrual symptoms were reported by twice as many women diagnosed with mood disorders (mixture of Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder) than by women who did not have a psychiatric diagnosis (67.7% vs. 33.7%). These results suggest that PMS symptoms are particularly common in women with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. However, this study involved women reporting prior experiences with PMS, which is not always as accurate as studies that involve prospective monitoring to obtain real-time reporting of PMS symptoms. Such prospective studies of PMS in women with bipolar disorder are sparse and have inconsistent conclusions.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:38:38-04:00December 15th, 2008|New Research, PMS and PMDD|12 Comments

Does Depo-Provera Cause Mood Changes?

Depo-Provera (DMPA), also known as the birth control shot, is a highly effective form of contraception that lasts for 3 months, and thus requires only 4 injections per year. DMPA contains a long-lasting form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate that works as a contraceptive agent by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Potential side effects of DMPA include bone density loss, weight gain, and mood worsening. Although depression is listed in the packet insert as a side effect of the injection, available research addressing this side effect are limited and contradictory.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2019-03-01T13:36:17-04:00July 29th, 2008|Infertility and Mental Health, PMS and PMDD|51 Comments

Do Oral Contraceptives Cause Mood Changes?

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 of depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T12:44:52-04:00May 1st, 2008|PMS and PMDD|3 Comments

Migraine Headaches Associated with the Menstrual Cycle

Up to 25% of women experience migraine headaches during their reproductive years; often migraine headaches may be triggered or exacerbated by hormonal changes. It has been estimated that 7-14% of women experience migraines only during the premenstrual or menstrual phase of their cycles. Another 52-70% experience headaches throughout the month but note increased headache activity before or during menses.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T12:09:45-04:00April 10th, 2008|Menopausal Symptoms, PMS and PMDD, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|19 Comments

New Research Study at CWMH: Treatment of Premenstrual Worsening of Depression

Seeking women between 18-45 with PMS who have been diagnosed with depression. If you are between 18 and 45 and:

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:15:59-04:00February 15th, 2008|PMS and PMDD|2 Comments

Nutritional Supplements for Premenstrual Syndrome: Do They Work?

Many promote the use of certain vitamins and minerals for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), but controlled studies supporting the use of nutritional supplements are sparse.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T11:22:36-04:00January 24th, 2008|PMS and PMDD|4 Comments