Missing Links: Adolescent Depression, Menarche, and Premenstrual Syndrome - A Piolt Study

Abstract

Hormon al factors h ave long been thought to play a signifi cant role in the etiology of depression. The emergence of a 2: I female excess of depressive i ll ness duri ng adolescence, the onset of menarche , and the depressive symptomato logy associated with premen c.trual syndrome (PMS) are potentiall y synergitic varia les that req uire consideration. A review of the current literature, as well as an independent pilot study. were undertaken i n order to explore this hypothesi s. The pilot study examined the interrelation sh ips between depressive disorder in female adolescents. age at onset of me­n arche, and the modulating effects of PMS.  The Teenage Premenstrual Mood Questionnaire (TPMQ) was administered to three groups of women: 1) 18 depressed  adolescents, 2) 16 age-controlled non­ depressed adolescent s, and 3) 20 first-year medical students. Results demonstrated a significantly earlier age at onset of menarche in depressed adolescents relative to controls ( 1 1.77 vs. 12.76, 13.0l respec­tively, p<0.007). Depressed adolescent reported experienci ng PMS symptoms 100% of the ti me, com­pared to 33% i n the adolescent control group and 60% i n the medical student control group. Depressed adolescen ts also reported an increase in depressive symptoms (incl udi ng more thou ght of self-harm) duri ng the premenstrual period. Earlier on set of mense. and PMS sy mptoms may reflect greater Overall fluctuations or exposure to estrogen levels, which may then affect neurotransmitter systems