---
title: How does mood change throughout 2 weeks in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?
description: Women with PMS experienced significantly greater mood changes over 2 weeks compared to women without PMS, showing much larger ups and downs in mood from day t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-variability-a-study-of-four-groups-1991/
---

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- How does mood change throughout 2 weeks in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?

Study, 1991

# How does mood change throughout 2 weeks in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?

Women with PMS experienced significantly greater mood changes over 2 weeks compared to women without PMS, showing much larger ups and downs in mood from day to day.

 Moderate study design

15 women with PMS, 10 with depression, 16 with borderline personality disorder, 24 without psychiatric conditions

## What they did

65 women participated: 15 with PMS, 10 with depression, 16 with borderline personality disorder, and 24 without these conditions. All rated their mood twice daily (morning and evening) for 14 days. Researchers analyzed how much moods changed day to day and from morning to evening.

## What they found

Women with PMS showed significantly greater mood variability over 14 days compared to women without PMS. All four groups differed from each other on every mood measure except morning-to-evening changes. Women with depression had the lowest overall mood ratings.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS naturally experience larger mood swings over time compared to women without PMS. However, the study tracked only 14 days, not a full menstrual cycle, so we do not know if the full cycle produces the same pattern.

15

women with PMS

14

days of mood tracking

65

total women studied

## About the study

Original title Mood variability: a study of four groups Authors Cowdry RW, Gardner DL, O'Leary KM et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1991 Study design Study Participants 65 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.148.11.1505](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.148.11.1505)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Borderline personality disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bpd/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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