Can women with Bi-Polar I or Bi-Polar II experience Cyclothymia at the time of menstruation? Is there a way to differentiate Cyclothymia from Premenstrual Syndrome, or can hormonal stressors cause Cyclothymia within longer episode patterns of Bi-Polar I & II ?

Thank You,

Lisa

This is a very important question. Menstrual cycle changes can affect both mental and physical illnesses.

My personal belief is that if you have bipolar disorder, it can be made worse by hormonal changes like a drop in estrogen, or even a rise. Estrogen is considered by some experts to have an anti-depressant effect. Also, if a woman loses her sleep because of hormonal changes, then certainly the mood disorder can be made worse. It is also very clear that women with PMS vs. those without, do not have different hormonal changes. The change in hormones is the same, but no doubt some interaction with the brain chemicals produces the syndrome.

PMS is fairly easy to distinguish from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is not always associated with menses; mania is not part of PMS; Bipolar disorder is seen often in hospitals and PMS rarely is. The issue from a treatment perspective is this. PMS can be assisted by vitamin B6, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, short term Zoloft and cognitive behavioral therapy. Yes, cyclothymia can be produced by menstrual changes.

Thanks again for the question and good luck.