Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a pathological spectrum of emotional and somatic
symptoms observed during the luteal phase of menstrual cycle interfering with the physical and
social life of the individual. WHO in 2016 revealed that Nigeria had the highest suicidal number
in Africa with over 17,000 lives lost to Suicide.The aim of this study was to evaluate the putative
genetic impact on depression and suicidal ideation amongst a population of young females with
premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The study was carried out across Benin metropolis. A total of
200 apparently healthy young female adults were recruited in this study with age range between
18 and 30 years. Subjects were grouped into 3 groups: Control subjects (without symptoms of
PMS), subjects with symptoms of PMS only and those with PMS and Suicidal tendencies. To
assess the subjects’ subjective perception of health, each subject was asked to fill out the self-
reporting luteal phase depression and distress measurements. Five (5.0) mls of whole blood was
collected and dispensed into 2.5ml DNA shield container. Analyses were carried out in the
University of Benin, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Federal University of
Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria. All data were presented as mean ± standard deviation.
Statistical analyses were done using graph pad prism 8.1. The data was evaluated using two-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) utilizing the F test. Data was expressed as the mean value ± SD
for the control and test groups. Differences within the groups were then assessed using least
significant difference (LSD) and p-values less than 0.05 (p<0.05) was considered statistically
significant. The Beck’s Depression Inventory showed a significant rise in the test participants
when compared with the control participants (p<0.05). Cytochrome P450 -17 gene expression
was significantly up regulated in the test participants compared to control participants during the
luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (p<0.05). The Extra sex comb/Enhancer of Zestes genes were
significantly down regulated in the test participants when compared with the control participants
(p<0.05).