---
title: Do women with PMS really experience mood and behavior changes linked to their menstrual cycle?
description: No. This small study found no evidence of mood or behavior changes linked to the menstrual cycle, suggesting retrospective questionnaires may overestimate PMS
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/no-menstrual-cyclicity-in-mood-and-interpersonal-behaviour-in-nine-women-with-2018/
---

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- Do women with PMS really experience mood and behavior changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2018

# Do women with PMS really experience mood and behavior changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

No. This small study found no evidence of mood or behavior changes linked to the menstrual cycle, suggesting retrospective questionnaires may overestimate PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

9 women with self-reported PMS

## What they did

Nine women who reported PMS on a retrospective questionnaire (PSST) tracked their mood and social behavior for 2 menstrual cycles using smartphone app TEMPEST. After each social interaction, they recorded how they felt and how they behaved.

## What they found

No evidence of menstrual cyclicity in negative affect, positive affect, quarrelsomeness, or agreeableness appeared in any of the 9 individual women during the 2-month tracking period. Women rated the TEMPEST app positively.

## What it means for you

Asking women to remember their symptoms may not be reliable and may lead to overdiagnosis of PMS. This was a very small study with only 9 women and no comparison group, so findings are uncertain and cannot be generalized.

9

Number of women

2

Menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title No Menstrual Cyclicity in Mood and Interpersonal Behaviour in Nine Women with Self-Reported Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Bosman RC, Albers CJ, de Jong J et al. Journal Psychopathology Year 2018 Study design Survey study Participants 9 What was tested None; prospective mood and behavior tracking Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1159/000489268](https://doi.org/10.1159/000489268)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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

Systematic review, 2026

What is it like for women to live with PMS or PMDD?

Cohort study, 2024

Do women with severe premenstrual disorders have higher risk of relationship breakup?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?

Systematic review, 2021

Are women with PMS or PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide?

Randomised trial, 2019

Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2011

Does a 24/4 birth control pill help women with PMDD improve work, relationship, and social functioning?

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