Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and major depressive disorder

Abstract

A number of mood, behavioural, and somatic symptoms are reported by woman during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. A subset of symptoms comprises premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is found in the DSM-IV.The objective of the present paper was to assess associations between predmenstrual dysphoric disorder and development of major depressive disorder, as well as to define the possible correlation between clinical course and duration of PMDD and development of MDD.We surveyed 40 out-treated women, with mean age of 35,6 years. 35 of them had positive family history for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and 21 of them had positive family history for major depressive disorder. All of the female patients were followed during period of one year. They fullfilles criteria for Premenstrual dysphoric disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria. They were treated with fluoxetine or sertaline during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. During one year period 27 of these women developed major depressive episode. They fullfiled the DSM-IV criteria for MDD. These female out treated patiens were also rated with HAMD rating scale.The authors also observed correlation between the duration of PMDD in the number of days in the lutheal phase with the development of MDD.We can conclude that there may be correlation between the PMDD and MDD in the way that PMDD can be predisposing factor for development of MDD.Possibility of some same etiological factors in the development of PMDD and MDD could be one of the explanations for these results.