--- title: Why should psychologists research and treat premenstrual disorders more? description: Premenstrual disorders are real conditions linked to hormone sensitivity that psychologists are well-trained to study and treat. This article provides guidanc url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-disorders-a-primer-and-research-agenda-for-psychologists-2019/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Why should psychologists research and treat premenstrual disorders more? Cohort study, 2019 # Why should psychologists research and treat premenstrual disorders more? Premenstrual disorders are real conditions linked to hormone sensitivity that psychologists are well-trained to study and treat. This article provides guidance for increasing psychology involvement in this field. Early or limited evidence Review article - not an original study ## What they did Review and commentary article. The author discusses what is known about premenstrual disorders (PMS, PMDD, premenstrual exacerbation of other conditions) and explains why psychologists' skills in assessment, diagnosis, and understanding complex behaviors apply directly to this field. The article provides recommendations for research and clinical practice. ## What they found Women are two times more likely to develop affective disorders and three times more likely to attempt suicide compared with men. Premenstrual disorders arise from sensitivity to normal hormone changes across the menstrual cycle and often overlap with psychiatric disorders. These conditions share genetic and biological features with mood disorders. ## What it means for you Premenstrual disorders are an important area where psychologists' expertise can make a real difference in research and treatment. But the article does not present new research findings. Instead, it synthesizes existing knowledge and advocates for greater psychology involvement in the field. 2 times women more likely to develop affective disorders 3 times women more likely to attempt suicide ## About the study Original title Premenstrual Disorders: A Primer and Research Agenda for Psychologists Authors Eisenlohr-Moul TA Journal The Clinical psychologist Year 2019 Study design Cohort study What was tested None - this is a review article Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tw4bd](https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tw4bd) Original abstract Females are two times more likely to develop an affective disorder and three times more likely to make a suicide attempt. The etiology of these sex differences is complex, and cannot be reduced to biology alone. However, the growing field of reproductive mood disorders highlights how lifetime exposure to fluctuations in neuroactive sex hormones (including across the menstrual cycle) do contribute to greater female risk, specifically among those females who are neurobiologically sensitive to normal hormone changes (e.g., those with premenstrual disorders). Psychologists--and particularly clinical psychologists-- are trained to be expert in skills relevant to the study and treatment of premenstrual disorders, including assessment, differential diagnosis, and mechanisms of complex behaviors, and often develop other relevant expertise in the neurobiology of affective disorders and advanced longitudinal methods. The purpose of this article is to clarify how psychologists’ strengths can be readily applied to advance scientific knowledge and improve patient care in premenstrual disorders. In order to increase psychologist involvement in this emerging field, this article includes a primer on premenstrual disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of underlying disorders. It then provides recommendations for research psychologists interested in engaging this field, and outlines critical research areas for future work. Finally, brief recommendations for psychologists in clinical practice are provided. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Reproductive hormone sensitivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-hormone-sensitivity/) 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 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Review, 2024 What do brain wave patterns show about PMS and PMDD? Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Systematic review, 2022 Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Survey study, 2026 What is the true rate of PMDD, and does it worsen mental health conditions? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗