---
title: Does PMDD affect mood, memory and thinking differently across the menstrual cycle?
description: Mood got worse in the luteal (premenstrual) phase for women with PMDD, but memory and thinking problems in that phase happened in both PMDD and non-PMDD women
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-neuropsychological-function-and-cognitions-in-premenstrual-dysphoric-1999/
---

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- Does PMDD affect mood, memory and thinking differently across the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 1999

# Does PMDD affect mood, memory and thinking differently across the menstrual cycle?

Mood got worse in the luteal (premenstrual) phase for women with PMDD, but memory and thinking problems in that phase happened in both PMDD and non-PMDD women equally, based on this very small study.

 Early or limited evidence

10 women with PMDD and 10 age-matched women without PMDD

## What they did

Researchers tested 10 women with PMDD and 10 age-matched women without PMDD on mood, memory, and thinking tasks during both the follicular and luteal phases of their cycles, in a randomized order.

## What they found

A standard depression scale (the BDI) was significantly higher in the luteal phase only for women with PMDD, not for controls. Working memory was worse in the luteal phase for both groups, with no significant difference between PMDD and control women.

## What it means for you

A common mood questionnaire does pick up on premenstrual mood changes in PMDD, but the memory dip around this time of the cycle seems to happen to most women, not just those with PMDD. The sample was very small (10 per group), so results need confirming in bigger studies.

n=10

women with PMDD studied

n=10

control women studied

## About the study

Original title Mood, neuropsychological function and cognitions in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Man MS, MacMillan I, Scott J et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 1999 Study design Cohort study Participants 10 What was tested No treatment tested; mood and cognitive tests were compared across cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291798007715](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291798007715)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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## Related studies

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What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life?

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What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?

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Randomised trial, 2025

Does escitalopram improve attention and reduce impulsivity in women with premenstrual irritability and anger?

Case-control study, 2023

Do emotion regulation strategies help women with PMDD manage mood and stress hormones?

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