• Sang Min Lee and Jin Kyung Park.
• Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Oct 8; 100 (40): e27456e27456.

RationaleDienogest is a type of progestin used for the treatment of endometriosis (EM). However, a significant adverse effect of dienogest is depression; therefore, assessing for a history of mood disorders is recommended before prescribing the drug. Herein, we present the case of a patient with no history of psychiatric disorders who was diagnosed with dienogest-induced major depressive disorder. This case emphasizes the importance of close monitoring for negative mood changes in patients taking dienogest.Patient ConcernsA 41-year-old woman underwent surgery for EM. Postoperatively, her gynecologist prescribed dienogest (2 mg/d) to control EM symptoms. Two months after the initiation of dienogest, she manifested insomnia almost daily, gradually became depressed, lost interest in all activities, had incessant cries, and repeatedly thought of death. She had no history of major physical or psychiatric disorders.DiagnosisMajor depressive disorder, single episode, severe.InterventionsA psychiatric consultation was recommended, an antidepressant was prescribed, and dienogest was discontinued.OutcomesTwo weeks later, there was significant improvement in the symptoms, and after 4 weeks, she remained in a stable mood with no suicidal thoughts. She was followed up for 13 months with a maintenance dose of escitalopram (5 -10mg/d), until the psychiatrist recommended treatment discontinuation, with a confirmed state of remission.LessonsThis was a case of dienogest-induced depression in a patient with no history of mood disorders. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of the occurrence of severe depression in progestin users regardless of their previous history.Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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