Menstrual psychosis
Menstrual psychosis is a debated form of psychosis with a brief, sudden onset related to the menstrual cycle. The symptoms associated to it are dramatic and include delirium, mania or mutism. Most psychiatrists do not recognise the condition. Only 80 established cases are reported in medical literature and most of them were described by 19th Century physicians. It is thought to be linked with postpartum psychosis. This journal has been published looking at the 'evidence' for menstrual psychosis'.[1]
Contents
Definition
This is described as a rare form of severe mental illness, with the following characteristics:[2]
- Sudden onset in a previously asymptomatic person.
- Brief duration, with full recovery.
- Psychotic symptoms that can include confusion or hallucinations, mutism and stupor, delusions, or manic state. These are distinct from premenstrual tension, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual (late luteal phase) depression or dysphoric disorder or menstrual mood disorder.
- Occurrence in rhythm with the menstrual cycle.
It shares clinical features with, and presents similarly to, postpartum psychosis.[2] Researchers Deuchar and Brockington proposed that a sudden drop in levels of estrogen in the brain could be the trigger for both conditions.[3]
Epidemiology
The condition is rare, with only 80 established cases reported in medical literature and incomplete evidence of a further 200.[2]
History
Abnormal behaviour linked to menstruation was first noticed in the 19th century and, as early as 1825, menstrual mood disorder was used to acquit a mother convicted of infanticide.[4] The first descriptions of psychosis appeared about 1850.[5] In 1902, forensic psychiatrist and sexologist Richard v. Krafft-Ebing published a monograph with many case descriptions and a temporal classification.[6]
References
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- ↑ Brière de Boismont (1851). Recherches bibliographiques et cliniques sur la folie puerpérale, précédées d'un aperçu sur les rapports de la menstruation et de l'aliénation mentale. Annales Médico-psychologiques 2nd series 3: 574-610.
- ↑ v. Krafft-Ebing R (1902). Psychosis Menstrualis. Eine Klinisch-forensische Studie. Stuttgart, Enke
