Psychoendocrine Study of Oral Contraceptive Agents

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.