Psychobiology of mental disorders associated with childbearing: AN OVERVIEW

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65976/1/j.1600-0447.1979.tb00555.x.pd

The psychobiology of premenstrual dysphoria: The role of prolactin

(1) The evidence for a role of prolactin in the premenstrual syndrome is discussed in this review. (2) The timing of the onset and offset of both physical and psychological dysphoric symptoms corresponds with the luteal elevation and menstrual decrease of serum prolactin levels. (3) Women with premenstrual symptoms have been shown to have high prolactin levels throughout the menstrual cycle and especially in the premenstruum. (4) Suppression of prolactin secretion with bromocriptine is reported to be effective in preventing both physical and psychological premenstrual symptoms. (5) The mode of action of bromocriptine requires further study to exclude possible direct central nervous system effects of the drug, independent of its prolactin-suppressing action. (6) Indirect evidence for a role of prolactin in the premenstrual syndrome comes from (a) the actions of prolactin in causing renal retention of water, sodium and potassium; (b) the interactions of prolactin with lithium (which is reported to relieve premenstrual symptoms in some patients); some of the other reported treatments also may suppress prolactin secretion or antagonize its peripheral effects. (7) Prolactin may interact with the ovarian hormones to cause specific types of dysphoric symptoms. High prolactin levels associated with low estrogen levels may cause depressive symptoms. High prolactin levels associated with low progesterone levels may cause symptoms of anxiety or irritable hostility. (8) Interactions of prolactin with the ovarian hormones may also help to account for some related clinical states--mid-cycle mood elevations, elation in late pregnancy, postpartum depression and dysphoric menopausal symptoms.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22717/1/0000272.pd

The psychobiology of premenstrual dysphoria: review of theories and treatments

(1) Premenstrual mood changes such as depression, elation, anxiety, hostility and irritability are a common cause of disability in women. (2) The nature of the disorder, the clinical dimensions, the incidence, the psychological and psychosocial theories are reviewed. (3) A long list of treatments recommended over the years is also reviewed and discussed, illustrating the ambiguity and uncertainty in this area. (4) The relationship to other periodic functional conditions, especially manic-depressive illness is discussed with particular emphasis on predictive studies. (5) The psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms possibly involved in these premenstrual conditions are reexamined. A specific role for prolactin in the etiology of these premenstrual dysphoric states is suggested.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23045/1/0000617.pd

Dream and motivation: a psychobiological approach

Several lines of evidence point to the dream as a mediator of incentive phenomena. We review herein evidence from ontogenetic studies of the pleasure reaction, phylogenetic studies of the evolution of intelligence, studies of brain stimulation and recording, and clinical observations. These all suggest that it is possible to identify an evolutionary specialization of pleasure that (a) has served to mediate cognitive phenomena and (b) that the pontine noradrenergic locus coeruleus nucleus and its projections may play a role in this mediation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23592/1/0000554.pd

A psychoendocrine study of premenstrual tension syndrome : A model for endogenous depression?

We studied 42 women with severe Premenstrual Tension Syndrome (PMTS) and compared their clinical features and adrenocortical function with those seen in major depressive disorders. Self-report scales demonstrated that PMTS was very distressing, but the disturbance did not meet the RDC for Major Depressive Disorder -- endogenous subtype. Twenty-four hour urinary free cortisol estimation did not indicate cortisol hypersecretion and abnormal Dexamethasone Suppression Test results occured much less frequently than is usual in endogenous depression. Adrenocortical function did not differ significantly between follicular and premenstrual phases. PMTS does not appear to be a psychoendocrine model for endogenous depression.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24853/1/0000280.pd

Behavioral effects of dopamine agonists across the estrous cycle in rats

The effects of apomorphine upon stereotype and bromocriptine upon wheel running and intracranial reward were examined across the estrous cycle of female rats. Apomorphine elicited stereotypy in a dose-related fashion, but stereotypy was not reliably or systematically altered by estrous conditions. On the other hand, wheel running was augmented by bromocriptine in an estrous-specific fashion. Self-stimulation was increased by bromocriptine but this was not related to estrous cyclicity. These findings provide evidence for possible behavioral and motivational specificity of dopamine (DA) receptor-related estrous changes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46419/1/213_2004_Article_BF00434403.pd

Detailed analysis of estrous-related changes in wheel running and self-stimulation

Previous studies have demonstrated that a number of behaviors change their probability of occurrence during the estrous cycle. Wheel running is known to show estrous-related changes while reports upon intracranial reinforcement (self-stimulation, ICS) have been equivocal. The present studies examined both behvaiors to further resolve the underlying behavioral determinants of these estrous effects. Data for wheel running and intracranial self-stimulation behaviors of adult female Holtzman rats were collected nightly on a minute by minute basis across the estrous cycle. It was found that: (a) both behaviors showed significant estrous-related changes in frequency; (b) the two behaviors occurred in discontinuous episodes (bursts) during the dark phase of the diurnal cycle; and (c) of three burst parameters (number/session, average length, rate of response), number proved the best predictor of estrous-related behavioral change. Burst number may reflect an important motivational parameter underlying estrous-related changes in behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24102/1/0000359.pd

Superconducting islands, phase fluctuations and the superconductor-insulator transition

Properties of disordered thin films are discussed based on the viewpoint that superconducting islands are formed in the system. These lead to superconducting correlations confined in space, which are known to form spontaneously in thin films. Application of a perpendicular magnetic field can drive the system from the superconducting state (characterized by phase-rigidity between the sample edges) to an insulating state in which there are no phase-correlations between the edges of the system. On the insulating side the existence of superconducting islands leads to a non-monotonic magnetoresistance. Several other features seen in experiment are explained.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of "Fluctuations and phase transitions in superconductors", Nazareth Ilit, Israel, June 10-14, 200

Motivated behavior and the estrous cycle in rats

(1) The estrous cycle in the rat may be used to study recurrent changes in motor behaviors and motivation which are strongly related to cyclic hormonal and CNS changes. (2) The peak in motivated behaviors occurs during a sharply defined period on the night between proestrus and estrus and is evident in facilitated wheel-running, lordosis, and intracranial self-stimulation. (3) Behaviors without a clearly motivated character do not show an estrous cyclicity. (4) The estrous cyclic variation in intracranial self-stimulation was observed at a specific locus -- the pars campacta of the substantia nigra. (5) A neurochemical link between sexually motivated behavior, wheel running and intracranial self-stimulation is suggested. This link is in part dopaminergic but is probably also activated by many other systems.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24499/1/0000776.pd

MISDIAGNOSES OF ENDOGENOUS DEPRESSION WITH RESEARCH DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23629/1/0000592.pd