---
title: Do immune system markers relate to hostility or depression in the premenstrual phase?
description: Paranoid hostility was linked to higher inflammatory markers during the premenstrual phase, but depression symptoms were not linked to these markers.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/paranoid-hostility-but-not-depressive-symptoms-associated-with-cytokines-during-2021/
---

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- Do immune system markers relate to hostility or depression in the premenstrual phase?

Survey study, 2021

# Do immune system markers relate to hostility or depression in the premenstrual phase?

Paranoid hostility was linked to higher inflammatory markers during the premenstrual phase, but depression symptoms were not linked to these markers.

 Early or limited evidence

22 medical students with mean age 22.95 years

## What they did

Followed 22 medical students (mean age 22.95 years) across one complete menstrual cycle. Took blood samples at the follicular, mid-luteal, and late-luteal phases and measured both mood symptoms and four inflammatory markers at each point.

## What they found

Paranoid hostility was positively correlated with three inflammatory markers in the late luteal phase: IL-8 (Rs=0.476, p=0.046), IL-1α (Rs=0.458, p=0.048), and TNF-α (Rs=0.518, p=0.023). Depression symptoms showed no significant correlations. Mean cytokine levels did not change significantly across the menstrual cycle.

## What it means for you

Inflammatory markers may contribute to suspicious and mistrustful feelings in the premenstrual phase. The study is very small (only 22 medical students), looked at only one cycle, and it is unclear if findings apply to other women.

22

women studied

0.046

IL-8 correlation p-value

0.023

TNF-alpha correlation p-value

## About the study

Original title Paranoid Hostility but Not Depressive Symptoms Associated with Cytokines During the Premenstrual Phase in Young Women Authors Ioannis Syros Year 2021 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.53902/sojnn.2021.01.000505](https://doi.org/10.53902/sojnn.2021.01.000505)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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