--- title: Do women with PMDD lose the normal ability to control pain with emotions? description: No. Women with PMDD and control women both showed the same pattern: pain was strongest during negative emotions and weakest during positive emotions, regardle url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/affective-disturbance-associated-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-does-not-2014/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD lose the normal ability to control pain with emotions? Study, 2014 # Do women with PMDD lose the normal ability to control pain with emotions? No. Women with PMDD and control women both showed the same pattern: pain was strongest during negative emotions and weakest during positive emotions, regardless of cycle phase. Moderate study design 14 women with PMDD and 14 women without PMDD ## What they did Researchers tested 14 women with PMDD and 14 control women at three cycle phases: early, ovulatory, and late-luteal. Women viewed emotionally-charged pictures (disturbing, neutral, erotic) while receiving mild electrical stimulation. Researchers measured reported pain and spinal reflex response. Hormone levels and LH surges confirmed cycle phase. ## What they found Pictures successfully created the intended emotional states in both groups across all cycle phases. In both women with PMDD and control women across all menstrual phases, pain was highest during negative emotions and lowest during positive emotions. This same pattern appeared consistently in both groups and all phases. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD show normal emotional control of pain, unlike women with depression, insomnia, or fibromyalgia. This suggests PMDD affects emotions differently than these conditions. However, the study included only 14 women with PMDD tested in a lab setting with pictures, so findings may not apply to real-life pain. 14 women with PMDD 14 control women 3 menstrual cycle phases tested ## About the study Original title Affective disturbance associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder does not disrupt emotional modulation of pain and spinal nociception Authors Rhudy JL, Bartley EJ, Palit S et al. Journal Pain Year 2014 Study design Study Participants 14 What was tested None - observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2014.08.011](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2014.08.011) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Chronic pain and fibromyalgia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-chronic-pain/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Review, 2024 Can wearable devices track mood changes in PMDD before they happen? Case report, 2023 Does a combination of maca, progesterone, and magnesium help PMDD symptoms? Survey study, 2020 How common are premenstrual symptoms in secondary school students? Survey study, 2013 Are premenstrual symptoms linked to how women experience their body? Study, 2010 Are women with PMDD more sensitive to how light affects sleep hormones? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗