--- title: Does therapy work as well as an antidepressant for PMDD, and does combining them work better? description: Both therapy and antidepressant work well for PMDD with no difference in results after 6 months. Therapy maintains its effects better after treatment ends. Co url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-randomized-comparison-of-psychological-cognitive-behavior-therapy-medical-2002/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does therapy work as well as an antidepressant for PMDD, and does combining them work better? Randomised trial, 2002 # Does therapy work as well as an antidepressant for PMDD, and does combining them work better? Both therapy and antidepressant work well for PMDD with no difference in results after 6 months. Therapy maintains its effects better after treatment ends. Combining them does not help more than either one alone. Moderate study design 60 women with PMDD ## What they did 60 women with PMDD received one of three treatments for 6 months: cognitive behavior therapy (10 sessions), fluoxetine (20 mg daily), or both. Researchers measured symptoms before and after treatment and again 1 year later. ## What they found All three treatments significantly improved PMDD after 6 months. Fluoxetine worked faster at the start. When measured 1 year after treatment ended, women who had received therapy alone maintained their improvement better than those who had received only fluoxetine. There was no extra benefit from combining therapy and fluoxetine. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD can choose between therapy and fluoxetine depending on preferences and circumstances. Fluoxetine works faster initially, but therapy may have longer-lasting effects. Combining both treatments does not add extra benefit and may not be worth the extra cost and burden. The study was relatively small, so more research is needed. 60 women sample size who completed treatment 6 months treatment duration 10 sessions therapy sessions provided ## About the study Original title A randomized comparison of psychological (cognitive behavior therapy), medical (fluoxetine) and combined treatment for women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Hunter MS, Ussher JM, Browne SJ et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2002 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Cognitive behavior therapy (10 sessions), fluoxetine (20 mg daily), or both for 6 months Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674820209074672](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820209074672) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-cbt/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Review, 2017 What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Systematic review, 2012 How effective are cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants for PMS and PMDD? Review, 2011 What are PMS and PMDD, and how common are they? Survey study, 2025 How are PMS and PMDD diagnosed and treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗