Case-control study, 2018
Is PMDD linked to suicide attempts?
Yes, women who attempted suicide were significantly more likely to have PMDD than women in the control group. However, regular PMS was not associated with suicide attempts.
What they did
Case-control study comparing 120 women hospitalized after attempting suicide with 120 matched control women from the hospital. Psychiatrists assessed both groups for PMDD using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
What they found
PMDD was significantly more common in women who attempted suicide than in controls (p=0.001). Suicide attempts were not related to the menstrual cycle phase. No significant difference was found in PMS frequency between groups (p=0.294).
What it means for you
PMDD may be an independent risk factor for suicide, distinct from PMS. However, this is a hospital-based study of women with severe psychiatric illness, so results may not apply to all women with PMDD.
120
women who attempted suicide
120
control women
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and suicide attempts as a correlation among women in reproductive age
- Authors
- Shams-Alizadeh N, Maroufi A, Rashidi M et al.
- Journal
- Asian journal of psychiatry
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 120
- What was tested
- None - diagnostic assessment comparing two groups
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2018.01.003
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?
Systematic review, 2025
How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?
Interview study, 2025
How common is suicidal thinking in women with PMDD?
Review, 2023
What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle?
Cohort study, 2023
Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?
Systematic review, 2021
Are women with PMS or PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide?