Highlights in women's mental health

Women´s mental health has been understudied. Four clinical studies, including pharmaco-neuroimaging, health care utilization and pharmaco-genetics work, will be presented to highlight the value of sex-specific research to advance knowledge on women´s well-being. 1) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can be treated intermittently with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). A randomized controlled trial of symptom relief upon treatment was conducted together with neuroimaging assessment targeting behaviour related to the key symptom of irritability. *2)*Women commonly use hormonal contraceptives. Before to start treatment with SSRI, women with depression using and not using hormonal contraceptives, were examined for EEG-biomarkers associated with antidepressant treatment response. 3) Pregnancy and the postpartum period can trigger depressive symptoms. Provision of psychiatric care was investigated through the lenses of subtypes of perinatal depression (PND). 4) Women with bipolar disorder (BIP) have a higher risk of developing polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and viceversa. The mood-stabilizer valproate also increases the risk of PMOS. Shared genetic architecture was investigated to shed light on the genetic underpinnings of this comorbidity and provide insights into the pathways modulated by its treatment.

1. Escitalopram and brain reactivity to aggressive stimuli in premenstrual dysphoric disorder.Br J Psychiatry. 2026 doi: 10.1192/bjp.2026.10721
2. Hormonal contraceptives and EEG biomarkers for antidepressant treatment response in women.Commun Med. 2026 doi: 10.1038/s43856-026-01438-4
3. Subtypes of postpartum depressive symptoms and the association with subsequent psychiatric care: latent class analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2026. doi:10.1192/bjp.2026.10614
4. G**enomic relationship between polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and bipolar disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2026 doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112903.