Effects of oral contraceptives on daily self-ratings of positive and negative affect

Objectives: The relationship between affect and duration of oral contraceptive (OC) use was investigated. Method: Ninety-six women (17 first-time OC users, 34 long-time users, and 45 never-users) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) daily for 35 days. This study was the first to examine positive affect variability; personal and family psychiatric history; and to compare early-, late-, and never-users of OCs. Results: Triphasic users experienced greater variability in positive affect across the cycle, likely due to the variable hormone levels. Withdrawal of a constant level of hormones (monophasics) during early use was associated with a cater variability in positive affect than withdrawal of gr changing hormonal levels (triphasics). Furthermore, personal and family psychiatric history may mediate an effect of OCs on negative affect variability. Conclusions: OCs and, therefore, hormones can alter day-to-day affect variability. Four variables are associated with this effect: duration of use, OC type, personal psychiatric history, and family psychiatric history. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.