Cohort study, 2023
Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders?
Yes. Women with PMS were more likely to have genetic factors for depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. This was a large, well-designed study, so we can be confident in these findings.
What they did
Researchers examined 56,725 Norwegian women to see if genetic risk factors (measured using genetic scores) for major psychiatric disorders were linked to PMS symptoms. They assessed PMS during pregnancy using self-reported depression and irritability before menstruation.
What they found
About 22% of women had PMS symptoms. Women with PMS carried genetic risk factors for major depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. This connection held true even for women who had never been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition.
What it means for you
PMS and major psychiatric disorders share genetic roots, which helps explain why some women with PMS are more prone to mood problems. The findings are reliable because of the large sample size, but the study was done in Norway, so results may differ in other populations.
56,725
women studied
21.7%
had PMS symptoms
5
psychiatric disorders linked to PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Associations Between Symptoms of Premenstrual Disorders and Polygenic Liability for Major Psychiatric Disorders
- Authors
- Jaholkowski P, Shadrin AA, Jangmo A et al.
- Journal
- JAMA psychiatry
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 56,725
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1137
Topics
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