<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Background:</bold> Data on the clinical characteristics of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. Although selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used to treat both PMS and MDD there is little information on their efficacy in PMS in patients with co-morbid MDD.
<bold>Objective:</bold> To describe the clinical picture of PMS co-morbid with current depressive episode (DE) and evaluate its dynamics under a 6-month course of SSRIs treatment.
<bold>Materials and methods:</bold> We present a longitudinal observational study, conducted in out- and inpatient conditions. Thirty-one women eligible to antidepressant treatment for a current DE in the course of MDD were evaluated for PMS and those of them suffering from both conditions were re-evaluated twice during a 6-month medication intake period.
<bold>Results:</bold> The pre-treatment clinical picture of PMS co-morbid with MDD was dominated by moderately to severely expressed mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, breast tenderness, palpitations, abdominal bloating, and headache. After six months of SSRIs intake the syndrome was characterised by nearly the same symptoms (with the addition of irritability and appetite changes) but mildly expressed.
<bold>Conclusion:</bold> Untreated PMS co-morbid with MDD is characterised by mainly moderately severe psychological and around three times less commonly – somatic symptoms. SSRIs treatment alleviate both symptom types at month three and even further, although less pronouncedly at month six.
</abstract>

Background: Data on the clinical characteristics of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. Although selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used to treat both PMS and MDD there is little information on their efficacy in PMS in patients with co-morbid MDD.
Objective: To describe the clinical picture of PMS co-morbid with current depressive episode (DE) and evaluate its dynamics under a 6-month course of SSRIs treatment.
Materials and methods: We present a longitudinal observational study, conducted in out- and inpatient conditions. Thirty-one women eligible to antidepressant treatment for a current DE in the course of MDD were evaluated for PMS and those of them suffering from both conditions were re-evaluated twice during a 6-month medication intake period.
Results: The pre-treatment clinical picture of PMS co-morbid with MDD was dominated by moderately to severely expressed mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, breast tenderness, palpitations, abdominal bloating, and headache. After six months of SSRIs intake the syndrome was characterised by nearly the same symptoms (with the addition of irritability and appetite changes) but mildly expressed.
Conclusion: Untreated PMS co-morbid with MDD is characterised by mainly moderately severe psychological and around three times less commonly – somatic symptoms. SSRIs treatment alleviate both symptom types at month three and even further, although less pronouncedly at month six.

Clinical Characteristics of PMS Co-Morbid with MDD and Effectiveness of SSRIs in its Treatment

University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Sveti Naum” – Sofia

Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology

Acta Medica Bulgarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background: Data on the clinical characteristics of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. Although selective...

Clinical Characteristics of PMS Co-Morbid with MDD and Effectiveness of SSRIs in its Treatment

Published Online: Nov 24, 2020

Page range: 24 - 30

Received: Mar 26, 2020

Accepted: Apr 26, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2020-0041

Keywords
PMDD/PMS, major depressive disorder, co-morbidity, SSRI

© 2020 R. Yakimova et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Clinical Characteristics of PMS Co-Morbid with MDD and Effectiveness of SSRIs in its Treatment

Published Online: Nov 24, 2020

Page range: 24 - 30

Received: Mar 26, 2020

Accepted: Apr 26, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2020-0041

KeywordsPMDD/PMS, major depressive disorder, co-morbidity, SSRI

© 2020 R. Yakimova et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
PMDD/PMS, major depressive disorder, co-morbidity, SSRI