TYPES OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES, DEPRESSION, AND PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish whether there is an association between oral contraceptives and depression. The sample consisted of 5151 female members of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan who took a multiphasic examination. A significantly smaller percentage of patients reported symptoms of severe premenstrual depression among pill users as against never users. Patients taking combination pills showed significantly less severe premenstrual depression than sequential users. The higher the progestin dose, the less severe depression was measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Depression Scale, and scales on premenstrual mood. Past pill users expressed more severe depression than current pill users and never users. At least some of this depression began after discontinuation. The findings cast doubt on the hypothesis that the pill causes depression. Rather, there seems to be considerable premenstrual improvement, especially with combination drugs.