Treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder with sertraline during the luteal phase: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.
BACKGROUND
The authors designed a randomized, double-blind, crossover study to assess the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) when given only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Thirty-one subjects were selected for a 7-month study period that included an initial 2 months of screening, 2 months of treatment with placebo or sertraline, 1 washout month, and 2 months of crossover treatment with either placebo or sertraline. Eleven subjects completed the study. Symptoms were monitored with daily reports using the Calendar of Premenstrual Experience (COPE). For each study phase, premenstrual COPE scores (7 days prior to menses) were examined using repeated measures analysis of variance. Scores were logarithmically transformed. Comparison of baseline scores between the luteal and follicular phases was examined using the paired t test.


RESULTS
Analysis of COPE results during the treatment periods of the luteal phase showed a significant treatment effect, with higher scores during the placebo cycles compared with the sertraline-treated cycles (p = .0052 behavioral, p = .014 physical).


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to demonstrate a significant response to a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor used only during the luteal phase. The authors point out the importance of this finding both in terms of economic cost of patients as well as how it may add to the growing understanding of the etiology of PMDD.
Young
S A
SA
Department of Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA.
Hurt
P H
PH
Benedek
D M
DM
Howard
R S
RS
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase; D008499:Medical Records; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010919:Placebos; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline