Progesterone Modulator May Reduce Symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Ulipristal acetate (UPA), a progesterone-modulating medication used as an emergency contraceptive and treatment for uterine fibroids, might help alleviate the psychological symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), according to astudy published today inAJP in Advance. An estimated 3% to 5% of women of reproductive age are believed to experience PMDD, which is characterized by mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms in the days preceding menstruation.For the current study, Erika Comasco, Ph.D., of Sweden ’s Uppsala University and colleagues recruited women aged 18 to 46 who were diagnosed with PMDD, as determined by scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DSRP) over a two-month period. This scale measures the time course and severity of 11 common PMDD symptoms. A total of 95 participan ts were then given either 5 mg UPA or placebo pills daily over the course of three menstrual cycles.At the end of the study, DRSP scores (the average among the five days prior to menstruation) had fallen by an average of 41% among women taking UPA compared with 22% among women taking placebo. In addition, half of the women taking UPA achieved full remission (defined as no individual DRSP symptom above a score of 3) compared with 21% in the placebo group.Among specific symptoms, women taking UPA reported greater improvements in symptoms of depression, anger, and fatigue relative to women taking placebo. UPA was not associated with improvements...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: ajp in advance anger antidepressants depression irritability PMDD premenstrual dysphoric disorder progesterone Ulipristal acetate Source Type: research