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Survey study, 2024

How common is PMDD among medical students, and is it linked to stress?

About one in six health science students had PMDD, and one in four had PMS. Students with PMDD or moderate-to-severe PMS had notably higher stress levels than those without these symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 181 medical and allied health science students in Jaipur, India, mean age 20.4 years

What they did

Researchers surveyed 181 medical, dietetics, and physiotherapy students at a college in India. Students filled out questionnaires about PMS and PMDD symptoms and stress levels. Researchers grouped them by symptom severity and compared stress between groups.

What they found

Of the 181 students, 29 had PMDD, 43 had PMS, and 109 had no or mild symptoms. Students with PMDD and those with moderate-to-severe PMS had notably higher stress levels than those with no or mild symptoms.

What it means for you

PMDD and significant PMS appear to come with higher stress in this student population. Whether stress causes the symptoms, the symptoms cause stress, or both happens together is unclear. This was a small study of students at one college in India, so results may not apply to all students or women.

181

students studied

29

with PMDD

43

with PMS

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Its Relationship with Stress: A Study on Medical and Allied Medical Science Students at a Tertiary Care Center
Authors
Khushboo Bairwa, Gaurav Maggu, Swati Choudhary et al.
Journal
Annals of Indian Psychiatry
Year
2024
Study design
Survey study
Participants
43
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes

Topics