FIGURE 1.

Study Schematic and Timing of PET and fMRI Procedures in a Multimodal Neuroimaging Study of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder^a

^a All participants received injections of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist leuprolide at a dosage of 3.75 mg i.m. every 4 weeks. Plasma follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone levels were measured at each study visit to confirm adequate gonadal suppression. After 3 months of unopposed leuprolide, all participants entered the hormonal add-back phase while continuing to receive monthly leuprolide injections. The women were randomly assigned to receive 5 weeks each of transdermal 17β-estradiol at a dosage of 0.1 mg per day or progesterone vaginal suppositories at a dosage of 200 mg b.i.d. in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover fashion with a 2-week washout period between the periods of hormone administration. In addition, during the fifth week of estradiol, all women received both estradiol and progesterone to induce menses. During the hormone add-back phases, women received both patches and suppositories each day (active or placebo, according to add-back phase) in order to blind the treatment team and participants to the hormone being replaced. Scanning windows are indicated by the yellow bars.