Study, 1989
Do women with severe PMS also have other mental health conditions?
Some women seeking treatment have mood and behavior changes limited to the premenstrual period, while others have ongoing mental health conditions that worsen before their period. Most differences between treatment-seeking women and women without symptoms were due to the second group.
What they did
Researchers identified and compared three groups of women: 86 who experienced mood and behavior changes only in the premenstrual period, 54 with existing persistent mental health conditions (that worsened premenstrually), and 61 controls with no significant premenstrual changes and no mental health condition.
What they found
When comparing women seeking treatment to the control group, most of the differences were explained by the women with persistent mental health conditions. This allowed researchers to identify that women with true premenstrual dysphoric changes (severe mood and behavior changes limited to the premenstrual period) can be distinguished from those whose existing mental health conditions worsen before their period.
What it means for you
This shows severe PMS exists as its own condition, separate from other mental health problems. Some women thinking they have PMS may actually have other conditions worsening before their period. Better diagnosis helps doctors distinguish these cases. The main limit is this was a one-time comparison, not a long-term study.
86
women with premenstrual mood changes only
54
women with persistent mental health conditions
61
control women
About the study
- Original title
- Characteristics of women seeking treatment for premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Harrison WM, Endicott J, Nee J et al.
- Journal
- Psychosomatics
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 86
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0033-3182(89)72246-5
Topics
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