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Action by and sensitivity to neuroactive steroids in menstrual cycle related CNS disorders

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Abstract

Neuroactive steroids are a large group of substances having effect in the brain and on brain function. The steroids most studied are allopregnanolone (ALLO), tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone (THDOC), pregnenolone sulfate (PS) dihydroepiandrosteronesulfate (DHEAS), and estradiol (E2). ALLO and THDOC are called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) steroids as they are positive modulators of the GABAA receptor in a similar way as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol. GABA steroids not only have similar behavioral effects as benzodiazepines and barbiturates but, possibly, also similar adverse effects as well. This review aims to elucidate the possible role that neuroactive steroids play in the development of mood disorders in women. One of the most clear-cut examples of the interaction between mood, neuroactive steroids, and the GABA system is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a cluster of negative mood symptoms occurring during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in 2–6% of reproductive women. Furthermore, certain women also experience adverse mood effects during sequential progestin addition to postmenopausal estrogen treatment, which is why the role of neuroactive steroids in postmenopausal women is also addressed in this review.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by EU Structural Fund Objective 1, Swedish Research Council/Medicine (proj. 4X-11198), Västerbottens county, Umeå municipal, northern Sweden health region, Norrlands University Hospital, Umeå University foundations.

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  1. Umeå Neurosteroid Research Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    Anna-Carin N-Wihlbäck, Inger Sundström-Poromaa & Torbjörn Bäckström

  2. Umeå Neurosteroid Research Center, Building 5B 5tr, Norrlands University Hospital, 901 85, Umeå, Sweden

    Torbjörn Bäckström

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  1. Anna-Carin N-Wihlbäck
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  3. Torbjörn Bäckström
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Correspondence to Torbjörn Bäckström.

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N-Wihlbäck, AC., Sundström-Poromaa, I. & Bäckström, T. Action by and sensitivity to neuroactive steroids in menstrual cycle related CNS disorders. Psychopharmacology 186, 388–401 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0185-2

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