--- title: Do medical students with premenstrual syndrome have higher anxiety and depression? description: Yes. Medical students with PMS had significantly higher depression and anxiety scores than those without PMS. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/investigating-anxiety-and-depression-in-medical-students-with-premenstrual-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do medical students with premenstrual syndrome have higher anxiety and depression? Survey study, 2021 # Do medical students with premenstrual syndrome have higher anxiety and depression? Yes. Medical students with PMS had significantly higher depression and anxiety scores than those without PMS. Early or limited evidence 300 medical students in Iran ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 300 medical students at Ilam University in Iran, followed over 3 menstrual cycles from August to December 2016. Researchers used questionnaires to measure depression, anxiety, and PMS symptoms. ## What they found 137 women (44.7%) met criteria for PMS. Depression scores were higher in the PMS group (7.72±5.93) versus the non-PMS group (5.86±4.88) (p=0.003). Anxiety scores were also higher in the PMS group (44.47±7.21) versus non-PMS group (42.32±5.74) (p=0.004). PMS was more common in women aged 20-25 and in unmarried women. ## What it means for you Anxiety and depression are more common in women with PMS, especially in younger unmarried students. However, this study does not prove whether PMS causes anxiety and depression, whether they contribute to PMS, or whether they share common causes. The study is from one university in Iran only. 300 medical students studied 44.7% with premenstrual syndrome 7.72 vs 5.86 depression score with vs without PMS ## About the study Original title Investigating Anxiety and Depression in Medical Students with Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Razhan Chehreh, Batol Solaimannzhad, Zolaykha Karamelahi et al. Journal Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 300 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20210704.16](https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20210704.16) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder in women that decreases their emotional, behavioral, and physical functioning. It also affects their family relationships and social and educational activities. Recognizing the factors associated with PMS can be helpful in planning to alleviate the complication. The aim of this study was to investigate the anxiety and depression in medical students with premenstrual syndrome. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 300 students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences took part during three menstrual cycles from August to December in 2016. The participants were selected through convenient sampling. For data gathering, PSST screening questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory, and Spielberger Anxiety Scale were utilized. Data analyses were done using T-test, Chi-square, and ANOVA in SPSS 19 (P<0.05). Results: Totally, 137 participants (44.7%) had premenstrual syndrome. This syndrome is more common in the age range 20-25 (61.9%) in unmarried girls (72.4%). Mean menstrual cycle length and bleeding duration were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean score of depression in students with and without PMS was 7.72±5.93 and 5.86±4.88 respectively. In addition, the mean score of anxiety in students with and without PMS was 44.47±7.21 and 42.32±5.74 respectively. Therefore, the two groups were significantly different in terms of depression (p=0.003) and anxiety (p=0.004). Conclusion: The symptoms of anxiety and depression are more common among young and unmarried students with premenstrual syndrome. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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? Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2026 Does the Chinese version of the PMS screening questionnaire work well? Randomised trial, 2025 Can hypnosis ease anxiety, stress and low mood in women with PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗