Cohort study, 2024
Do women with irregular periods have more depression symptoms?
Women with irregular cycles reported more depression symptoms in both studies. However, in the more rigorous analysis with complete data, the result was not statistically significant, so the link is unclear.
What they did
Cross-sectional: 394 women reported depression and menstrual cycle regularity once. Longitudinal: 77 women completed questionnaires about depression and stress at two phases during one menstrual cycle.
What they found
In the cross-sectional study, women with irregular cycles had more depressive symptoms. In the longitudinal analysis, those with irregular cycles also had more depressive symptoms after accounting for stress. When analyzing only the 52 women with complete data, the pattern remained but was not statistically significant.
What it means for you
Irregular periods may be connected to depression, but the evidence is not yet strong. The study would have been stronger with daily hormone measurements and tracking multiple cycles. It was also limited by smaller sample size and data collected during COVID.
394
women in cross-sectional study
77
women in longitudinal study
52
women with complete data
About the study
- Original title
- Higher Depressive Symptoms in Irregular Menstrual Cycles: Converging Evidence from Cross-Sectional and Prospective Assessments
- Authors
- Klusmann H, Kapp C, Engel S et al.
- Journal
- Psychopathology
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 394
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000535565
Topics
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