Cohort study, 1989
Does anxiety from panic disorder get worse before a woman's period?
No. Women with panic disorder did not have more anxiety before their period, unlike women with PMS. This suggests panic disorder is not affected by the menstrual cycle.
What they did
20 women with panic disorder, 20 healthy control women, and 20 women with PMS were monitored across at least two menstrual cycles without anxiety medication, and their anxiety was tracked.
What they found
Anxiety ratings did not change with menstrual cycle phase in panic disorder patients or healthy controls. But women with PMS showed a clear increase in anxiety in the premenstrual phase.
What it means for you
Panic disorder appears separate from menstrual cycle changes. The results highlight the importance of evaluating each psychiatric condition individually rather than assuming all anxiety worsens premenstrually.
20
women with panic disorder
20
healthy control women
20
women with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Panic disorder and the menstrual cycle: panic disorder patients, healthy control subjects, and patients with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Stein MB, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR et al.
- Journal
- The American journal of psychiatry
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 20
- What was tested
- None - this was an observational study, not a treatment trial
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1176/ajp.146.10.1299
Topics
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