ASPOFAFF :: Journal - Volume 2 :: Volume 2 - Issue 1 :: Vol 2 - Iss 1 - Short Communication - Neurosteroids in Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: findings of a controlled study in women during the premenstrual phase


	Home


	Shopping Cart


	Contact Us


	IRBD.ORG


	EUBF.ORG

All Enquiries:: +44 (0)20 8487 1421

Search:

Advanced search

Printable version

Categories

Help

ASPOFAFF :: Journal - Volume 2 :: Volume 2 - Issue 1 :: Vol 2 - Iss 1 - Short Communication - Neurosteroids in Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: findings of a controlled study in women during the premenstrual phase

Vol 2 - Iss 1 - Short Communication - Neurosteroids in Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: findings of a controlled study in women during the premenstrual phase #51

Neurosteroids in Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: findings of a controlled study in women during the premenstrual phase MC Hardoy*, M Serra°, MG Carta*, P Contu*, C. Sardu*, MG Pisu°, I Floris°, E Berutti^, R Muzzetto^, A. Pirastu^, G Biggio° *Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Italy; Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Italy; ^Casa di Cura San Salvatore, Cagliari, Italy. *mgcarta@tiscali.it Background: In the present study we measured blood serum levels of neurosteroids during the premenstrual phase of women affected by Bipolar Disorder (BD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and in a control group. In fact, to our knoledge, there are not reports on the levels of neurosteroids in BP. Methods: A case-controlled study was performed to compare premenstrual levels of progesterone, its metabolites allopregnanolone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) and cortisol in 3 groups of women: 17 outpatients with BD, 14 with MDD (in a condition of well-being without relapses or recurrences for at least 3 months) and 16 control subjects not affected by psychiatric disorders. Eligible subjects were assessed initially through a clinical interview by a psychiatrist, and the resulting diagnoses were subsequently required to be confirmed by the SCID-I for DSM-IV. Results: A statistically significant difference was revealed between concentrations of progesterone (P<0.0001, BP> DDM> controls) and allopregnanolone (P<0.0001, BP> DDM> controls). Subjects affected by Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder displayed higher levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone, although differences were no longer observed following standardisation for diagnostic groups. Similar findings were obtained for treated subjects, drug-free (BP+DDM) cases that also displayed higher blood serum levels of progesterone (P<0.01) and allopregnanolone (P<0.001) respect to healthy controls. Comorbidity with Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Eating Disorders had no effect on the association of steroids-mood disorders. Discussion and Conclusions: Females with a lifetime diagnosis of BD or MDD during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle and in a condition of clinical well-being, presented higher blood serum concentrations of progesterone and allopregnanolone compared to healthy controls. Women with BD presented even higher levels than those affected by MDD. The possibility that the increase in neurosteroid concentrations observed is associated to a clinical improvement of the condition rather than to the effect of drug treatment alone can not be ruled out. Association with PD, OCD and ED does not influence the plasma neurosteroid concentrations. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994. Biggio G, Purdy RH. Neurosteroids and brain function. Academic Press; 2001. First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.; 1997. Pisu MG, Serra M. Neurosteroids and neuroactive drugs in mental disorders. Life Sciences 74:3181-3197; 2004.

Details

Price: €0.01

Options

Quantity

Add to cart

Send to friend

Your name: *

Your e-mail: *

Recipient's e-mail: *

Send to friend

Your cart

	Cart is empty

View cart
Checkout

Authentication

Username

Password

Recover password

If Javascript is disabled in your browser click here