Case-control study, 1991
Does PMS change how women remember everyday events?
Yes. Women with PMS remember negative events better when they are in a bad mood, while women without PMS remember positive events better. Women with PMS have more negative moods overall.
What they did
Small study where women with PMS and women without PMS kept daily records of memorable events for two consecutive menstrual cycles, then took memory tests one cycle later. Researchers measured their moods throughout.
What they found
Women with PMS had poorer memory overall than other women. They reported more depression and anger in daily life. Women with PMS better remembered events they experienced in negative moods when tested while in negative moods. Control women showed the opposite: they better remembered positive events and events from good mood days. Negative mood actually interfered with control women's memory.
What it means for you
PMS may change how the brain processes memories, causing women to focus on and remember negative events. This could make mood problems worse. Main limits: small sample and only tracked two menstrual cycles.
2
consecutive menstrual cycles tracked
1
cycle delay before memory test
About the study
- Original title
- Mood‐related self‐schemata and mood‐congruity effects in autobiographical memory: A study of women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Craig R. Barclay, Andrea L. Petitto, Anthony H. Labrum et al.
- Journal
- Applied Cognitive Psychology
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None; observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/acp.2350050602
Topics
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