Slyepchenko A, et al. – The present study sought to compare illness characteristics and female–specific mental health problems among women with bipolar disorder (BD) with and without the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The results of this study showed that the comorbidity between PMDD and BD was related to worse clinical results and increased illness burden.

Methods

• This study was conducted on one thousand, ninety-nine women with BD who took part in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD).
• Using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, psychiatric diagnoses and illness characteristics were assessed.
• Female-specific mental health was evaluated utilizing a self-report questionnaire developed for STEP-BD.
• PMDD diagnosis was based on DSM-5 criteria.

Results

• The present study showed that women with comorbid BD and PMDD had an earlier onset of bipolar illness (P < 0.001) and higher rates of rapid cycling (P = 0.039), and increased number of past-year hypo/manic (P = 0.003), and lifetime/past-year depressive episodes (P < 0.05).
• In addition, comorbid PMDD was related to higher proportion of panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, substance abuse, and adult attention deficit disorder (all P < 0.05).
• Notably, there was a closer gap between BD onset and age of menarche in women with comorbid PMDD (P = 0.003).
• Findings revealed that women with comorbid PMDD reported more severe mood symptoms during the perinatal period and while taking oral contraceptives (P < 0.001).