Mood parameters and severe physical symptoms of the female reproductive cycle.
OBJECTIVE
The cyclic variation of physical and psychological phenomena has been accepted as a natural consequence of the cyclicity of the human female reproductive function. The exact nature of these changes, however, has not been fully understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the fluctuation of psychological and physical symptoms throughout the female reproductive cycle in healthy, non-PMDD women.


METHODS
63 psychiatrically healthy, non-PMDD women with normal regular menstrual cycles and not using hormonal contraceptive methods participated in the study. Participants completed the PRISM calendar every night for three consecutive cycles and on three predefined days of the first cycle they completed several other psychometric measures (SCL-51, STAI, ZSDS, EAT and Mind and Body Cathexis Scale). Based on an at least 66% increase in physical symptoms from the late follicular to the late luteal phase on the PRISM, subjects were assigned to LPPS (luteal phase physical symptoms) and nonLPPS (no luteal phase physical symptoms) groups. Average of psychometric scores obtained at the three predefined days were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference between the two groups only in case of the interpersonal sensitivity subscale of the SCL-51.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the appearance of severe physical symptoms in the late luteal phase of the female reproductive cycle is not accompanied by a worsening of psychological symptoms. The appearance of enhanced psychological symptomatology attributed to the luteal phase of the female reproductive cycle thus seems to be independent of the appearance of severe physical symptoms.
Gonda
Xenia
X
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary. kendermagos@yahoo.com
Lazáry
Judit
J
Telek
Tamás
T
Pap
Dorottya
D
Kátai
Zita
Z
Bagdy
György
G
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000209:etiology; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult