Speaking of Psychology How hormones and the menstrual cycle affect mental health, with Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD
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Sep 6, 2023 Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD, expert on the interaction between hormones, the menstrual cycle, and mental health, discusses the truth behind PMS, explains the difference between PMDD and PMS, debunking the hormonal imbalance misconception. They also explore the relationship between hormone sensitivity and suicidality in PMDD patients, sex differences in hormone sensitivity, and the importance of studying individual differences in reactivity to the menstrual cycle.
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PMDD Is Distinct From General PMS
- PMDD is a severe emotional reaction to normal hormonal changes, distinct from broadly defined PMS.
- Only a minority (about 6%) of people who menstruate meet criteria for PMDD based on cyclical emotional symptoms.
Confirm PMDD With Daily Ratings
- Use two months of daily ratings to confirm PMDD because retrospective reports are often biased by cultural beliefs.
- Track core emotional symptoms across the cycle to detect premenstrual worsening that disappears after menses.
Not A Hormone Imbalance — Brain Sensitivity
- Severe premenstrual symptoms are not caused by abnormal hormone levels or an endocrine imbalance.
- Evidence points to an abnormal brain sensitivity to normal estrogen and progesterone changes as the main mechanism.