Skip to content

Survey study, 2023

Which personality traits predict PMDD or severe PMS?

Women with anxious or cyclothymic personality traits are more likely to have PMDD and severe PMS. About 13.2% of women studied had PMDD.

Moderate study design 408 women (online survey)

What they did

408 women filled out online surveys about their demographics, PMS symptoms, and personality temperament traits. Researchers looked for patterns between temperament and PMS severity.

What they found

About 13.2% had PMDD and 14.5% had moderate to severe PMS. Women with PMDD were more likely to have had a past psychiatric diagnosis, family history of psychiatric illness, suicide attempts, or anxious temperament. Anxious and cyclothymic personality traits were linked to worse PMS symptoms.

What it means for you

Personality traits like anxiety may be connected to more severe PMS and PMDD. This may help identify women who need extra support. The study cannot show whether these traits cause worse PMS or if severe PMS leads to these traits.

408

women

13.2%

PMDD rate

14.5%

moderate-severe PMS rate

About the study

Original title
Frequency and predictors of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its association with affective temperaments
Authors
İrem Ekmekçi Ertek, Mehmet Ünler, Aysegul Yay-Pence et al.
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Year
2023
Study design
Survey study
Participants
408
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes

Topics