Psychoendocrine Study of Oral Contraceptive Agents
FRANCIS J. KANE JR. M.D.1,
MORRIS A. LIPTON M.D.2,
ALBERT R. KRALL PH.D.3, , and
PAUL A. OBRIST PH.D.4
1 Associate professor of psychiatry, department of psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
2 Professor of psychiatry, department of psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
3 Professor of biochemistry and psychiatry, department of psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
4 Associate professor of psychology in psychiatry, department of psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
To determine if there was risk of adverse reaction to oral contraceptives, the authors conducted a two-month single-blind study of seven women, who received a combination agent or a sequential agent. All subjects reported affective symptoms; however, significant changes appeared in only one patient, who was the most clinically disturbed. Catecholamine excretion was altered in all patients. From their findings and the literature, the authors speculate that use of such drugs that alter catecholamine metabolism will result in behavioral change, especially in users who have had prior depressive illness.
