Background: Despite many associations between late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and major depression, there have been no placebo-controlled trials of an antidepressant in this disorder.
Method: The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of LLPDD. The diagnosis of LLPDD was based on daily, prospective self-rating forms that subjects completed over two menstrual cycles. Subjects with other psychiatric disorders, determined by the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia interview, were excluded from the study. Women who continued to meet criteria for LLPDD after a single-blind trial of placebo were randomly assigned to treatment for two menstrual cycles with either fluoxetine 20 mg/day (N = 10) or placebo (N = 10).
Results: Nine of the 10 subjects receiving fluoxetine responded to treatment, whereas only 2 of the 10 receiving placebo did (p less than .0003). Symptoms decreased significantly in all 10 LLPDD diagnostic categories in the fluoxetine-treated group. All subjects taking fluoxetine elected to continue with this treatment after completion of the study.
Conclusions: These results suggest that fluoxetine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for LLPDD.