PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER IN WOMEN WITH PARTIAL EPILEPSY
Abstract number :
2.340
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
470
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Sevie Shuman, Joyce Liporace, Michael R. Sperling, Kristen Fowler, Cynthia Harden, Page Pennell, Donald Schomer, Andrew Herzog Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA;
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition features severe and disabling behavioral and emotional symptoms that occur before menstrual onset and then remit spontaneously during menses. It affects 3-5% of the general population. We sought to determine the prevalence of PMDD in women with partial epilepsy and evaluate its occurrence in catamenial versus non-catamenial epilepsy.
Women participating in the 6 month double blind placebo controlled NIH study of progesterone therapy in partial epilepsy were included. PMDD was determined retrospectively at the time of enrollment by the DSM IV criteria. The pattern of catamenial versus non-catamenial seizures was determined after prospectively obtaining seizure and menstrual data for three menstrual cycles.
95 women with partial epilepsy were evaluated. Mean age was 32.3 years (range 14-46); mean daily seizure frequency, 0.55 (range 0.05-3.6). 13/95 (13.7%) had PMDD compared to 4% of the general population (chi square 4.39, p=0.036). Mean age for those with PMDD was 34.9 (27-46) and mean daily seizure frequency was 0.30 (.05-1.25), p=N.S.
54 women had their seizure pattern characterized with 19 (35%) catamenial, 35 (65%) not catamenial. Among the 19 catamenial subjects, 6/19 (31.6%) had PMDD compared to 5/35 (14.3%) without a catamenial seizure pattern, p=0.065 .
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder has a higher prevalence in women with epilepsy compared to the general population and appears to be more common in the catamenial epilepsy group. Women whose seizures exhibit hormonal sensitivity also have behavioral and emotional symptoms that show hormonal sensitivity.
[Supported by: NIH RO1 NS 39466-01A1]