--- title: Do women with PMDD have different brain structure than healthy women? description: Yes, women with PMDD have smaller brain volumes and thinner cortex in multiple regions involved in mood control. Brain scans can distinguish women with PMDD f url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/differential-grey-matter-structure-in-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have different brain structure than healthy women? Case-control study, 2022 # Do women with PMDD have different brain structure than healthy women? Yes, women with PMDD have smaller brain volumes and thinner cortex in multiple regions involved in mood control. Brain scans can distinguish women with PMDD from controls with 74% accuracy based on these structural differences. Early or limited evidence Women with PMDD and healthy controls ## What they did Women with PMDD and healthy controls had brain MRI scans during the luteal phase. Researchers compared the volumes and thickness of grey matter between groups using two different measurement methods. They also used machine learning to see if brain structure could distinguish women with PMDD from controls. ## What they found Women with PMDD had smaller grey matter volume in ventral posterior cortices and cerebellum (Cohen's d = 0.45-0.76), smaller volume in the right amygdala and putamen (Cohen's d = 0.34-0.55), and thinner cortex particularly in the left hemisphere (Cohen's d = 0.20-0.74). Machine learning could distinguish women with PMDD from controls with up to 74% accuracy based on grey matter structure. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD have consistent structural differences in brain regions that control mood through top-down inhibition. These differences are visible enough that a computer can recognize them. However, the study's sample size is not specified in the abstract. 0.45-0.76 Cohen's d for volume differences 0.20-0.74 Cohen's d for cortical thickness 74% Brain classification accuracy ## About the study Original title Differential grey matter structure in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: evidence from brain morphometry and data-driven classification Authors Dubol M, Stiernman L, Wikström J et al. Journal Translational psychiatry Year 2022 Study design Case-control study What was tested None; observational study comparing brain structure with machine learning analysis Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02017-6](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02017-6) Original abstract Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a female-specific condition classified in the Diagnostic and Statical Manual-5th edition under depressive disorders. Alterations in grey matter volume, cortical thickness and folding metrics have been associated with a number of mood disorders, though little is known regarding brain morphological alterations in PMDD. Here, women with PMDD and healthy controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Differences in grey matter structure between the groups were investigated by use of voxel- and surface-based morphometry. Machine learning and multivariate pattern analysis were performed to test whether MRI data could distinguish women with PMDD from healthy controls. Compared to controls, women with PMDD had smaller grey matter volume in ventral posterior cortices and the cerebellum (Cohen's d = 0.45-0.76). Region-of-interest analyses further indicated smaller volume in the right amygdala and putamen of women with PMDD (Cohen's d = 0.34-0.55). Likewise, thinner cortex was observed in women with PMDD compared to controls, particularly in the left hemisphere (Cohen's d = 0.20-0.74). Classification analyses showed that women with PMDD can be distinguished from controls based on grey matter morphology, with an accuracy up to 74%. In line with the hypothesis of an impaired top-down inhibitory circuit involving limbic structures in PMDD, the present findings point to PMDD-specific grey matter anatomy in regions of corticolimbic networks. Furthermore, the results include widespread cortical and cerebellar regions, suggesting the involvement of distinct networks in PMDD pathophysiology. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 How common is PMDD? Systematic review, 2021 Are there hormone changes that could explain PMDD or depression in women? 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