Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) during the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual syndrome.

Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) were recorded at three menstrual cycle phases (menstrual, late follicular, and late luteal) in a sample of healthy control women (n = 21) and in a sample of women (n = 30) diagnosed as suffering from Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder (LLPDD). The latter were divided on the basis of retrospective and prospective self-ratings into moderate (PMS+) and severe (PMS++) symptom groups. Results showed (1) no change in BAER latencies at different phases of the menstrual cycle; (2) increased BAER latencies for wave III in women with moderate PMS symptoms compared with healthy controls; (3) increased BAER latencies for waves III and V in women with severe PMS symptoms compared with healthy controls. These results raise the possibility of brainstem dysfunction in PMS women, and support the idea of a neurobiological predisposition to this order.