title: Menstrual cycle, beta-endorphins, and pain sensitivity in premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
abstract: This study examined pain sensitivity and pain modularity mechanisms (e.g., beta-endorphin levels, blood pressure) in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD; n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 27) during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Physiological measures were taken during rest and ischemic pain testing. In both cycle phases, PMDD women (a) displayed lower resting cortisol and beta-endorphin levels and (b) exhibited shorter pain threshold and tolerance times and greater pain unpleasantness ratings during pain. PMDD women also reported greater pain unpleasantness and intensity and had lower beta-endorphin levels in their luteal phase and tended to display higher blood pressure levels at rest and during pain testing. Results suggest that endogenous opioids may be pathophysiologically relevant to PMDD and that the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis may modulate pain sensitivity in PMDD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7175, USA. susan_girdler@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Straneva
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maixner
authors.forename: Kathleen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Cort A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Girdler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin