---
title: What did older research teach us about the causes of premenstrual tension?
description: Research from before 1972 suggested several possible causes for premenstrual tension, including personality factors, stress, culture, hormones, and chemicals
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/historical-studies-of-premenstrual-tension-up-to-30-years-ago-implications-for-2002/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- What did older research teach us about the causes of premenstrual tension?

Study, 2002

# What did older research teach us about the causes of premenstrual tension?

Research from before 1972 suggested several possible causes for premenstrual tension, including personality factors, stress, culture, hormones, and chemicals in the brain.

 Early or limited evidence

Not applicable. This reviews older studies, not a new study of women.

## What they did

This was a review of research studies about premenstrual tension from before 1972. It looked at what those studies had found about the causes and treatments.

## What they found

Earlier research suggested that personality, psychological stress, and cultural factors might affect premenstrual tension. It also explored biological factors including changes in salt and water in the body, hormones from the ovaries, and brain chemicals.

## What it means for you

These older studies pointed to many possible causes of premenstrual tension. Understanding what was studied decades ago helps show that researchers have been trying to understand this for a long time. Different approaches might work for different women depending on what is causing their symptoms.

## About the study

Original title Historical studies of premenstrual tension up to 30 years ago: implications for future research Authors Janowsky DS, Rausch JL, Davis JM Journal Current psychiatry reports Year 2002 Study design Study What was tested Not applicable. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0068-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0068-8)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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

Randomised trial, 2026

Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗
