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Abstracts

• Premenstrual syndrome

AUTHOR(S): Menkes DB; Coates DC; Fawcett JP

AUTHOR'S ADDRESS: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

ARTICLE TITLE: Acute tryptophan depletion aggravates premenstrual syndrome.

ARTICLE SOURCE: J Affect Disord (Netherlands), Sep 1994, 32(1) p37-44

ABSTRACT: The dietary technique of acute tryptophan depletion was used to suppress brain serotonin synthesis in 16 women with documented premenstrual syndrome. Each subject was tested at distinct phases of each of two menstrual cycles. Baseline amino acid levels did not vary across the menstrual cycle, except for tyrosine which showed a significant premenstrual decrement. Compared to a sham procedure, actual tryptophan depletion caused a significant aggravation of premenstrual symptoms, particularly irritability. Symptom magnitude was correlated with diminution of tryptophan relative to other amino acids. This result supports other evidence implicating serotonin in premenstrual syndrome.

AUTHOR(S): Parry BL; Hauger R; Lin E; Le Veau B; Mostofi N; Clopton PL; Gillin JC

AUTHOR'S ADDRESS: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 92093-0804.

ARTICLE TITLE: Neuroendocrine effects of light therapy in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

ARTICLE SOURCE: Biol Psychiatry (United States), Sep 15 1994, 36(6) p356-64

ABSTRACT: In 20 late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and in 11 normal control (NC) subjects, circadian profiles of cortisol, prolactin, thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH), and core body temperature were measured during midfollicular (MF) and late luteal (LL) menstrual cycle phases and after 1 week of light therapy either with (1) bright (tau 2500 lux) white morning (6:30 AM to 8:30 AM), (2) bright white evening (7 PM to 9 PM) or (3) dim ( 10 lux) red evening light, randomly administered in three separate luteal phases. In NC but not PMDD subjects, the cortisol peak significantly delayed in the LL compared with the MF phase. In PMDD, prolactin peak and amplitude were higher, prolactin acrophase earlier, and temperature amplitude higher during both the MF and LL phases. After light treatment, prolactin amplitude remained higher in LLPDD than in controls. In both groups, bright light shifted the cortisol acrophase, and AM light increased the prolactin nadir. Bright PM light increased the TSH nadir in LLPDD, but decreased it in controls. Thus, menstrual cycle phase, diagnosis, and light therapy may differentially affect neuroendocrine systems.

AUTHOR(S): Parry BL; Mahan AM; Mostofi N; Klauber MR; Lew GS; Gillin JC

AUTHOR'S ADDRESS: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 92093.

ARTICLE TITLE: Light therapy of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: an extended study.

ARTICLE SOURCE: Am J Psychiatry (United States), Sep 1993, 150(9) p1417-9

ABSTRACT: Nineteen patients with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and 11 healthy comparison subjects underwent a 3-month crossover trial of bright (more than 2500 lux) white morning, bright white evening, and placebo dim (less than 10 lux) red evening light, administered daily for 1 week during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. All light treatments significantly reduced depressive ratings from baseline levels.

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