Altered sensitivity to alcohol in the late luteal phase among patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
BACKGROUND
Affective disorders, and possibly also premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are risk factors for alcohol abuse in women. Although the majority of prior studies have indicated that alcohol sensitivity does not differ between menstrual cycle phases, patients with PMDD have thus far not been studied.


METHODS
We have evaluated the functional sensitivity to a low dose of alcohol in 12 women with and 12 women without PMDD in the mid-follicular and late luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, by comparing the effects of an intravenous alcohol infusion on a number of saccadic eye movement measures, including saccadic eye velocity (SEV), saccade deceleration, and self-rated levels of intoxication.


RESULTS
PMDD patients displayed blunted SEV (p<0.01) and saccade deceleration responses (p<0.01) to alcohol infusion in the late luteal phase compared to the mid-follicular phase. Control subjects, on the other hand, did not change their SEV or saccade deceleration responses to alcohol between cycle phases.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are compatible with altered saccadic eye movement sensitivity in response to alcohol among PMDD patients, particularly in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
Nyberg
Sigrid
S
Department of Clinical Science, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University Hospital, S-901-85 Umea, Sweden. sigrid.nyberg@obgyn.umu.se
Wahlström
Göran
G
Bäckström
Torbjörn
T
Sundström Poromaa
Inger
I
D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol