This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Ellen Leibenluft, MD; Patricia L. Fiero, MA; David R. Rubinow, MD
From the Clinical Psychobiology Branch (Dr Leibenluft and Ms Fiero) and the Section on Behavioral Endocrinology, Biological Psychiatry Branch (Dr Rubinow), the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md. Ms Fiero is currently affiliated with the Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;51(10):761-781.

Abstract
The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the effects of the menstrual cycle on dependent variables in mood disorder research to inform investigators which physiological measures are likely to be significantly affected by menstrual cycle fluctuations and precisely how they might be affected. The following variables are discussed: prolactin; growth hormone; the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (including thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine); the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (cortisol, corticotropin, and β-endorphin); melatonin; sleep; body temperature; and neurotransmitter activity (serotonergic and adrenergic systems). Body temperature and plasma and urinary norepinephrine vary predictably over the menstrual cycle. Prolactin and β-endorphin may have peaks in the periovulatory phase, whereas serotonin levels in platelet-poor plasma may reach a nadir at that time. Triiodothyronine, thyroxine, cortisol, and melatonin do not appear to vary systematically over the course of the menstrual cycle, whereas the data for growth hormone, thyrotropin, corticotropin, and sleep are inconclusive.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Association Between the Menses and Suicide Attempts: A Replication Study
Baca-Garcia et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2003;65:237-244.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of menstrual cycle phase on carbohydrate supplementation during prolonged exercise to fatigue
Bailey et al.
J. Appl. Physiol. 2000;88:690-697.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Relationship Between Menstrual Cycle Phases and Suicide Attempts
Baca-Garcia et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2000;62:50-60.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Gonadal Steroids in the Treatment of Mood Disorders
Epperson et al.
Psychosom. Med. 1999;61:676-697.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of Antidepressant Medication on Morning and Evening Thyroid Function Tests During a Major Depressive Episode
Duval et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996;53:833-840.
ABSTRACT  

Menstrual Cycle Effects on Catecholamine and Cardiovascular Responses to Acute Stress in Black but Not White Normotensive Women
Mills et al.
Hypertension 1996;27:962-967.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Response to Cholecystokinin-Tetrapeptide
Le Melledo et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:605-606.
ABSTRACT  

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorders, Anxiety, and Depressions: Vulnerability Traits or Comorbidity
Halbreich
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:606-606.
ABSTRACT