Prevalence of psychiatric disorders and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in patients with experience of adverse mood during treatment with combined oral contraceptives.

BACKGROUND

Negative mood symptoms remain one of the major reasons for discontinuation of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs). The primary aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in women with different experience of COCs.

STUDY DESIGN

Thirty women currently on COCs with no report of adverse mood symptoms, 28 women currently on COCs and experiencing mood-related side effects, 33 women who had discontinued COC use due to adverse mood effects and 27 women who had discontinued COC use for reasons other than adverse mood symptoms were included. Ongoing psychiatric disorders were evaluated by a structured psychiatric interview and prevalence rates of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) were assessed by daily prospective ratings on the Cyclicity Diagnoser scale.

RESULTS

Women with ongoing or past experience of COC-induced adverse mood, more often suffered from mood disorders than women with no reports of adverse mood while on COC. The prevalence of prospectively defined PMS or PMDD did not differ between prior users with positive or negative experience. Women who had discontinued COC use due to adverse mood symptoms more often had had a legal abortion in the past.

CONCLUSION

Women with ongoing or past self-reported adverse mood effects from COCs had a significantly increased prevalence of mood disorders.