Premenstrual disorders share genetic liability with major psychiatric disorders

Norway: Premenstrual disorders have shared genetic roots with major psychiatric diseases as premenstrual disorders symptoms were connected with genetic susceptibility for both affective spectrum disorder and serious psychiatric disorders as per a new study that was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.  

Premenstrual disorders (PMDs) comprise premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and premenstrual exacerbation of another medical condition. The symptoms of these disorders vary from mild to disabling. Previous literature suggests that PMDs and major psychiatric disorders share some pathophysiological mechanisms. As there is uncertainty if PMDs and major psychiatric disorders share the same genetic characteristic, researchers conducted a study in Norway between June 1999 and December 2008 to examine whether PMD symptoms are associated with the genetic liability for affective spectrum disorders and nonaffective major psychiatric disorders, as indexed by polygenic risk scores (PRSs).  

This genetic association study included Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study women. PRSs were used to determine whether genetic liability for major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder were associated with the symptoms of premenstrual disorders, using the PRS for height as a somatic comparator. The symptoms of premenstrual disorders were assessed at recruitment at week 15 of pregnancy with self-reported severity of depression and irritability before menstruation. The association between the presence of premenstrual disorder symptoms and the PRSs for major psychiatric disorders was tested by applying Logistic regression. 

Key findings: 

• The mean (SD) age of 56,725 women included in the study was 29.0 (4.6) years.
• About 21.7% of the total participants had Premenstrual disorder symptoms (12316 of 56 725 participants).
• The symptoms of premenstrual disorders were associated with the PRSs for major depression, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder but not with the PRS for height. 
• The findings were confirmed in a subsample of women without a history of psychiatric diagnosis. 

Thus, the study shows that PMDs share genetic architecture within the spectrum of affective disorders and other major psychiatric disorders. 

Further reading: Jaholkowski P, Shadrin AA, Jangmo A, et al. Associations Between Symptoms of Premenstrual Disorders and Polygenic Liability for Major Psychiatric Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online May 10, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1137