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Survey study, 1982

Do women without mental health problems experience mood and anxiety changes during their cycle?

Women without current or past mental health issues experienced only minor cycle-related mood changes. Water retention was the only symptom that reached statistical significance.

Early or limited evidence 11 women (average age 23) with no current or past mental health problems

What they did

11 women with no history of mental health problems were evaluated daily for hormone levels, mood, and behavior throughout their cycle.

What they found

Subjects experienced only minor fluctuations in mood ratings. Water retention was the only symptom achieving statistical significance. Premenstrual elevations in mood and anxiety were not statistically significant.

What it means for you

This suggests that marked mood and anxiety changes linked to PMS may be more common in women with underlying mood conditions. However, this is a very small study of only women without mental health history, so it doesn't show what happens in women with PMS.

11

women studied

23

average age

About the study

Original title
Anxiety and mood fluctuation during the normal menstrual cycle
Authors
Lahmeyer HW, Miller M, DeLeon-Jones F
Journal
Psychosomatic medicine
Year
1982
Study design
Survey study
What was tested
None - observational study

Topics