Allopregnanolone serum concentrations and diurnal cortisol secretion in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Most prior studies in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) indicate a blunted hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function. However, the relationship between neuroactive progesterone metabolites, such as allopregnanolone, and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in PMDD patients is relatively sparsely studied. The primary aims of this study were to assess diurnal variation in circulating cortisol and low-dose dexamethasone suppression in PMDD patients and healthy controls, and the relationship between these two HPA axis indices and allopregnanolone serum concentrations. Twenty-six women with prospectively defined PMDD and 30 healthy controls were recruited. Participants underwent diurnal sampling for cortisol serum concentrations and a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. In addition, morning allopregnanolone serum concentrations were determined. There was no difference in diurnal secretion of cortisol and degree of dexamethasone suppression of cortisol between PMDD patients and healthy controls. However, PMDD patients with high allopregnanolone levels displayed blunted nocturnal cortisol levels in comparison with healthy controls who had low allopregnanolone serum concentrations. In women with PMDD, diurnal secretion of cortisol may be influenced by allopregnanolone levels of the luteal phase. This finding may be attributed to timing of blood sampling in the late luteal phase as well as the individual level of allopregnanolone but could potentially explain the discrepancies in results between studies examining HPA axis function in women with PMDD.

Adverse mood symptoms with oral contraceptives.

In spite of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) having been available for more than 50 years, surprisingly little is known about the prevalence of truly COC-related adverse mood symptoms and about the underlying biological mechanisms of proposed changes in mood and affect. Precise estimates of COC-related adverse mood symptoms are not available due to the lack of placebo-controlled trials. In prospective trials the frequency of women who report deteriorated mood or deteriorated emotional well-being varies between 4 and 10%, but it can be assumed that the causal relation in these prevalence rates is overestimated. Adverse mood symptoms and somatic symptoms are most pronounced during the pill-free interval of the treatment cycles, but whether extended COC regimens would be more favorable in this respect is not known. COCs with anti-androgenic progestagens, such as drospirenone and desogestrel, appear more favorable in terms of mood symptoms than progestagens with a more androgenic profile. Available data suggest that lower doses of ethinylestradiol could be beneficial.

Prevalence of violence exposure in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder in comparison with other gynecological patients and asymptomatic controls.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to estimate prevalence rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in comparison with gynecological outpatients and asymptomatic healthy control subjects. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Departments of obstetrics and gynecology in three different Swedish hospitals. POPULATION: Fifty-eight women meeting strict criteria for PMDD, a control group of 102 women seeking care at the gynecological outpatient clinic (ObGyn controls) and 47 asymptomatic healthy control subjects were included in this study. METHODS: The Swedish version of the Abuse Assessment Screen was used to collect information on physical and sexual abuse, and the screening instrument was administered as a face-to-face interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Previous and ongoing physical and sexual abuse. RESULTS: Any lifetime abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) was reported by 31.0% of PMDD patients, by 39.2% of ObGyn controls and by 21.3% of healthy controls. The ObGyn controls reported physical and/or emotional abuse significantly more often than PMDD patients as well as healthy controls (p<0.05). Lifetime sexual abuse was reported significantly more often by ObGyn controls than by healthy controls (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PMDD appear not to have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse to a greater extent than other gynecological patients or healthy control subjects. However, exposure to violence was common in all groups of interviewed women, and for the individual patient these experiences may contribute to their experience of symptoms.

Evaluation of different add-back estradiol and progesterone treatments to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate which add-back hormone replacement therapy would be most beneficial in terms of mood effects for patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who are receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Three different add-back hormone replacement treatments were evaluated in a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over clinical trial in 27 patients premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The add-back treatments consisted of 1.5 mg estradiol and 400 mg progesterone, 1.5 mg estradiol and placebo, and 0.5 mg estradiol and 400 mg progesterone. The primary outcome measure was daily symptom ratings for mood and physical symptoms. RESULTS: The highest dose of estradiol in combination with progesterone was associated with the most pronounced symptom recurrence, both in comparison with a lower dose of estradiol together with progesterone and estradiol-only treatment. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the present study, long-cycle add-back treatment to avoid frequent progestagen use appears to be most beneficial for patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Birth preference in women undergoing treatment for childbirth fear: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Childbirth fear is the most common underlying reason for requesting a caesarean section without medical reason. The aim of this randomised controlled study was to investigate birth preferences in women undergoing treatment for childbirth fear, and to investigate birth experience and satisfaction with the allocated treatment. METHODS: Pregnant women classified with childbirth fear (≥60 on the Fear Of Birth Scale) (n=258) were recruited at one university hospital and two regional hospitals over one year. The participants were randomised (1:1) to intervention (Internet-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ICBT)) (n=127) or standard care (face-to-face counselling) (n=131). Data were collected by questionnaires in pregnancy week 20-25 (baseline), week 36 and two months after birth. RESULTS: Caesarean section preference decreased from 34% to 12% in the ICBT group and from 24% to 20% in the counselling group. Two months after birth, the preference for caesarean increased to 20% in the ICBT group and to 29% in the counselling group, and there was no statistically significant change over time. Women in the ICBT group were less satisfied with the treatment (OR 4.5). The treatment had no impact on or worsened their childbirth fear (OR 5.5). There were no differences between the groups regarding birth experience. CONCLUSION: Women's birth preferences fluctuated over the course of pregnancy and after birth regardless of treatment method. Women felt their fear was reduced and were more satisfied with face-to-face counselling compared to ICBT. A higher percentage were lost to follow-up in ICBT group suggesting a need for further research.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in patients with experience of adverse mood during treatment with combined oral contraceptives.

BACKGROUND: Negative mood symptoms remain one of the major reasons for discontinuation of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs). The primary aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in women with different experience of COCs. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty women currently on COCs with no report of adverse mood symptoms, 28 women currently on COCs and experiencing mood-related side effects, 33 women who had discontinued COC use due to adverse mood effects and 27 women who had discontinued COC use for reasons other than adverse mood symptoms were included. Ongoing psychiatric disorders were evaluated by a structured psychiatric interview and prevalence rates of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) were assessed by daily prospective ratings on the Cyclicity Diagnoser scale. RESULTS: Women with ongoing or past experience of COC-induced adverse mood, more often suffered from mood disorders than women with no reports of adverse mood while on COC. The prevalence of prospectively defined PMS or PMDD did not differ between prior users with positive or negative experience. Women who had discontinued COC use due to adverse mood symptoms more often had had a legal abortion in the past. CONCLUSION: Women with ongoing or past self-reported adverse mood effects from COCs had a significantly increased prevalence of mood disorders.