Study, 1986
Do women with agoraphobia experience worse anxiety before their period?
Yes, just over half of the women with agoraphobia in this study experienced worse anxiety before their period.
What they did
Researchers used a structured psychiatric interview to examine the symptom history of 55 patients with agoraphobia with panic attacks and 5 patients with panic disorder.
What they found
51% of female agoraphobics experienced premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety symptoms. 80% had anticipatory or generalized anxiety, and 70% had depression.
What it means for you
If you have agoraphobia, your anxiety might get worse before your period. This study focused mainly on agoraphobia rather than premenstrual syndrome, so the finding is limited. The total group of 55 included both men and women, so it's unclear exactly how many were women.
51%
of female agoraphobics with premenstrual anxiety exacerbation
80%
with anticipatory or generalized anxiety
70%
with depression
About the study
- Original title
- Agoraphobia with panic attacks. Development, diagnostic stability, and course of illness
- Authors
- Breier A, Charney DS, Heninger GR
- Journal
- Archives of general psychiatry
- Year
- 1986
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 55
- What was tested
- None—this was an observational study examining existing symptom patterns.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1986.01800110015003
Topics
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