TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in frontal brain asymmetry associated with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorders
T2 - A single case study
AU - Baehr, Elsa
AU - Miller, Laura
AU - Rosenfeld, J. Peter
AU - Baehr, Rufus
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Background. In a pilot study, Baehr (2001) reports changes in frontal cortical alpha asymmetry during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle were documented in five depressed women who also experienced Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). In this paper detailed data is presented for one of these subjects and two comparison subjects who were part of the first study. The goal was two-fold: (a) to study how patterns of mood changes during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle correlated with changes in frontal alpha brainwave asymmetry, and (b) to determine whether treatment strategies, tailored to ameliorate symptoms, would be reflected in brainwave changes. Method. Neurofeedback, medical interventions, and prospective charting were collected over a period of six months for one patient. These data were compared with data collected for two monthly cycles from two non-PMDD comparison subjects. Results. The patient responded well to the neurofeedback protocol for depression and was normalizing her scores by the second week in treatment except for setbacks which occurred during the luteal phase of her menstrual cycle. Extreme mood changes correlated with changes in brainwave asymmetry during this period. A combination of neurofeedback and medication worked to stabilize her mood swings and asymmetry scores. Conclusion. This case study demonstrated how brainwave changes in frontal alpha asymmetry occurred during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in a woman who suffered from PMDD. Two comparison subjects, who were undergoing similar treatment for depression but did not suffer from PMDD, had stable alpha asymmetry scores during the entire menstrual cycle. Anomalies in serotonergic and /or gabergic function in the luteal phases of PMDD are pinpointed as possible underlying factors in this disorder.
AB - Background. In a pilot study, Baehr (2001) reports changes in frontal cortical alpha asymmetry during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle were documented in five depressed women who also experienced Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). In this paper detailed data is presented for one of these subjects and two comparison subjects who were part of the first study. The goal was two-fold: (a) to study how patterns of mood changes during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle correlated with changes in frontal alpha brainwave asymmetry, and (b) to determine whether treatment strategies, tailored to ameliorate symptoms, would be reflected in brainwave changes. Method. Neurofeedback, medical interventions, and prospective charting were collected over a period of six months for one patient. These data were compared with data collected for two monthly cycles from two non-PMDD comparison subjects. Results. The patient responded well to the neurofeedback protocol for depression and was normalizing her scores by the second week in treatment except for setbacks which occurred during the luteal phase of her menstrual cycle. Extreme mood changes correlated with changes in brainwave asymmetry during this period. A combination of neurofeedback and medication worked to stabilize her mood swings and asymmetry scores. Conclusion. This case study demonstrated how brainwave changes in frontal alpha asymmetry occurred during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in a woman who suffered from PMDD. Two comparison subjects, who were undergoing similar treatment for depression but did not suffer from PMDD, had stable alpha asymmetry scores during the entire menstrual cycle. Anomalies in serotonergic and /or gabergic function in the luteal phases of PMDD are pinpointed as possible underlying factors in this disorder.
KW - Alpha asymmetry
KW - Depression
KW - EEG biofeedback
KW - Neurofeedback
KW - Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
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U2 - 10.1300/J184v08n01_03
DO - 10.1300/J184v08n01_03
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2942568009
SN - 1087-4208
VL - 8
SP - 29
EP - 42
JO - Journal of Neurotherapy
JF - Journal of Neurotherapy
IS - 1
ER -