Lab study, 2020
Does anxiety sensitivity change during different parts of the menstrual cycle?
No, not much. Anxiety sensitivity remained relatively stable across the menstrual cycle phases tested, even in women with PTSD.
What they did
Study of 48 trauma-exposed women, some with PTSD and some without. Women completed an anxiety sensitivity measure at two times: during the early follicular phase and mid-luteal phase of their cycle. The measure assessed how sensitive they were to physical, cognitive, and social symptoms of anxiety.
What they found
Anxiety sensitivity scores remained relatively stable across the menstrual cycle phases tested. Scores for sensitivity to physical symptoms of anxiety were particularly stable.
What it means for you
Anxiety sensitivity appears to be a stable trait that doesn't change with menstrual hormones, even in women with PTSD. This helps distinguish which aspects of anxiety are personality traits versus hormone-related. The study only measured two cycle phases, not the entire cycle.
48
Women studied
2
Menstrual cycle phases measured
About the study
- Original title
- Examination of the stability of the anxiety sensitivity index across the menstrual cycle in trauma-exposed women with and without PTSD
- Authors
- Nillni YI, Arditte Hall KA, Langdon KJ et al.
- Journal
- Anxiety, stress, and coping
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 48
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2019.1660322
Topics
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