Survey study, 1991
Is premenstrual depression a sign of psychiatric illness?
No. Premenstrual depression marks more severe PMS and is linked to anxiety symptoms, but PMS itself is not evidence of a psychiatric disorder.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of women with PMS. They were divided into groups based on whether they reported depressive feelings. Participants were assessed using the Premenstrual Assessment Form and Daily Ratings Form.
What they found
Premenstrual depression was identified as a marker of PMS severity. It was closely linked to anxiety symptoms. Women with PMS did not show important psychopathological aspects in other areas.
What it means for you
While mood changes are part of PMS and premenstrual depression signals worse overall symptoms, PMS is not itself a psychiatric illness. The main limitation is that the abstract does not specify how many women were studied or provide specific numbers, making it difficult to assess the strength of findings.
About the study
- Original title
- [Mood changes and premenstrual syndrome]
- Authors
- Tanini N, Giardinelli L, Donati D et al.
- Journal
- Minerva psichiatrica
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1808432/
Topics
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