--- title: Are personality traits different in women with PMDD? | Niyora description: Yes. Women with PMDD showed higher levels of neuroticism-related traits including anxiety, stress susceptibility, embitterment, and mistrust than healthy wome url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neuroticism-related-personality-traits-are-related-to-symptom-severity-in-2010/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are personality traits different in women with PMDD? Case-control study, 2010 # Are personality traits different in women with PMDD? Yes. Women with PMDD showed higher levels of neuroticism-related traits including anxiety, stress susceptibility, embitterment, and mistrust than healthy women. These traits were stronger in women with more severe symptoms and linked to a genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene. Early or limited evidence 30 women with PMDD and 55 healthy control women ## What they did Case-control study comparing 30 women with PMDD to 55 healthy controls. Researchers assessed personality traits using a validated scale and analyzed genetic variations in 27 PMDD patients and 18 controls. ## What they found PMDD women scored higher on psychic anxiety, somatic anxiety, embitterment, stress susceptibility, and mistrust. Women with PMDD who carried a specific genetic variant (short allele of 5-HTTLPR) scored higher on psychic anxiety and had lower assertiveness than those without this variant. ## What it means for you Certain personality traits are more common in PMDD, especially in women with severe symptoms. A genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene may influence which personality traits are most affected. The main limitation is small sample size, especially for genetic analysis. 30 Women with PMDD 55 Healthy control women 27 Women with genetic data ## About the study Original title Neuroticism-related personality traits are related to symptom severity in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and to the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphism 5-HTTPLPR Authors Gingnell M, Comasco E, Oreland L et al. Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2010 Study design Case-control study Participants 27 What was tested Personality assessment and genetic testing Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0164-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0164-4) ## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2014 Are depression and anxiety linked to period pain in teenage girls? Survey study, 2023 How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms? Survey study, 2008 Do healthy women without PMDD have mood changes during their menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2003 Is how much control women feel over their life linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗