Abnormal Resting-State Connectivity at Functional MRI in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome

Qing Liu,Juan Li,Rui Li,Renlai Zhou,Quan Gu,Jiang Qiu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136029

Abstract

ObjectivesPremenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of cycling and relapsing physical, emotion and behavior syndromes that occur in the luteal phase and resolve soon after the onset of menses. Although PMS is widely recognized, its neural mechanism is still unclear.DesignTo address this question, we measured brain activity for women with PMS and women without PMS (control group) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). In addition, the participants should complete the emotion scales (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI; Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, before the scanning) as well as the stress perception scale (Visual analog scale for stress, VAS, before and after the scanning).ResultsThe results showed that compared with the control group, the PMS group had decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and theparahippocampalgyrus (PHG), as well as increased connectivity in the left medial/superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG) and precentralgyrus within the default mode network (DMN); in addition, the PMS group had higher anxiety and depression scale scores, together with lower stress perception scores. Finally, there were significantly positive correlations between the stress perception scores and functional connectivity in the MFG and cuneus. The BDI scores in the PMS group were correlated negatively with the functional connectivity in the MFG and precuneus and correlated positively with the functional connectivity in the MTG.ConclusionThese findings suggest that compared with normal women, women with PMS displayed abnormal stress sensitivity, which was reflected in the decreased and increased functional connectivity within the DMN, blunted stress perception and higher depression.

Highlights

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of cycling and relapsing physical, emotion and behavior syndromes that occur in the luteal phase and resolve soon after the onset of menses [1]
The results showed that compared with the control group, the PMS group had decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and theparahippocampalgyrus (PHG), as well as increased connectivity in the left medial/superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG) and precentralgyrus within the default mode network (DMN); in addition, the PMS group had higher anxiety and depression scale scores, together with lower stress perception scores
Resting State Connectivity and Premenstrual Syndrome. These findings suggest that compared with normal women, women with PMS displayed abnormal stress sensitivity, which was reflected in the decreased and increased functional connectivity within the DMN, blunted stress perception and higher depression

Summary

Introduction

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of cycling and relapsing physical, emotion and behavior syndromes that occur in the luteal phase and resolve soon after the onset of menses [1]. About 5–8% of women suffer from severe premenstrual syndrome, most of these women meet criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Recent study further proved that the hypo-reactivity to stress predicted greater premenstrual symptom severity and the pattern of stress reactivity that distinguished menstrual cycle related mood disorders (MEMD) from non-MEMD was predictive of clinical symptomatology [6]. This may suggest that the PMS was a stress-related disorder and the underlying neural mechanism of PMS may be related to basic stress reactivity of the brain

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Conclusion