---
title: Do depression, irritability, and anxiety get worse before the period in women with PMDD?
description: Yes. Women with PMDD showed worsening depression, irritability, and anxiety in the days before their period, while women without PMDD did not.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/depression-irritability-and-anxiety-in-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-2013/
---

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- Do depression, irritability, and anxiety get worse before the period in women with PMDD?

Cohort study, 2013

# Do depression, irritability, and anxiety get worse before the period in women with PMDD?

Yes. Women with PMDD showed worsening depression, irritability, and anxiety in the days before their period, while women without PMDD did not.

 Moderate study design

67 women with PMDD and 75 women without PMDD

## What they did

67 women with PMDD and 75 women without PMDD were followed for 3 menstrual cycles. Both groups completed mood and irritability questionnaires during the premenstrual phase and the early cycle phase.

## What they found

Women with PMDD showed premenstrual worsening of depression, irritability, and anxiety. Depression was the most prominent symptom for the diagnosis. Irritability was most strongly linked to problems with daily functioning.

## What it means for you

Depression and irritability are important symptoms of PMDD that deserve treatment. The study tracked symptoms over 3 cycles, making it fairly reliable. It was relatively small and based on women who volunteered, so results may not apply to all women with PMDD.

67

women with PMDD

75

control women

3

menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Depression, irritability, and anxiety in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Ko CH, Long CY, Chen SY et al. Journal International journal of psychiatry in medicine Year 2013 Study design Cohort study Participants 67 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.2190/pm.46.1.d](https://doi.org/10.2190/pm.46.1.d)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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

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