Prefrontal brain asymmetry and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder symptomatology.
BACKGROUND
Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a dysphoric form of pre-menstrual syndrome, is included as a diagnosis for further study in the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). The present study investigated whether a marker of risk for major depressive disorder (MDD), prefrontal brain asymmetry, also characterizes women with PMDD.


METHODS
In a sample of 25 college women with PMDD symptomatology and 25 matched controls, resting frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was assessed on four occasions within a two-week span.


RESULTS
Across several frontal sites women with PMDD had relatively less left than right prefrontal brain activity, consistent with a diathesis-stress model for menstrual-related dysphoria.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest an overlap in the risk profile for MDD and PMDD.
Accortt
Eynav E
EE
University of Arizona, United States. eynav.accortt@muohio.edu
Stewart
Jennifer L
JL
Coan
James A
JA
Manber
Rachel
R
Allen
John J B
JJ
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult