Premenstrual troubles and bipolar disorder

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have been studying the interaction between premenstrual symptoms and bipolar disorder. They studied 293 women over a year and found that the women with premenstrual worsening of their bipolar disorder had more 'episodes' - mostly of depression - than the other women. They had more symptoms of depression and mania overall, relapsed more rapidly and had more severe symptoms.