---
title: Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls?
description: Yes. Girls with premenstrual disorders have 4 to 7 times higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-injury, and suicide risk compared to boys and girls without
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-disorders-and-gender-differences-in-adolescent-mental-health-2023/
---

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- Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls?

Cohort study, 2023

# Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls with premenstrual disorders have 4 to 7 times higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-injury, and suicide risk compared to boys and girls without the disorder. This suggests premenstrual disorders may cause much of the difference in mental health problems between teenage boys and girls.

 Moderate study design

21,239 adolescents aged 10-19 in China (10,563 girls) from the Santai Youth Mental Health Promotion Cohort

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 21,239 people aged 10-19 in China. Researchers asked about premenstrual disorders, depression, anxiety, history of self-injury, and suicide risk using standard questionnaires.

## What they found

Girls with premenstrual disorders had 4.76 times higher depression, 3.86 times higher anxiety, 4.70 times higher self-injury rates, and 7.49 times higher suicide risk. Girls without premenstrual disorders had rates similar to boys.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual disorders appear to be strongly linked to mental health problems in teenage girls. A main limitation is that girls with premenstrual disorders may have reported higher depression and anxiety symptoms partly because these symptoms naturally overlap with PMS symptoms.

4.76

times higher depression in girls with premenstrual disorders

7.49

times higher suicide risk in girls with premenstrual disorders

10,563

girls studied

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual disorders and gender differences in adolescent mental health Authors Li Y, Jiang J, Halldorsdottir T et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2023 Study design Cohort study What was tested None - this was an observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.009](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.009)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Non-randomised trial, 2008

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Study, 2026

Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

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