--- title: How often does depression get worse before a woman's period? | Niyora description: Depressed women had 1.34 more symptoms that got worse before their period compared to other times. Older women were more likely to experience worsening sympto url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-exacerbation-of-depressive-disorders-in-a-community-based-sample-in-2004/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How often does depression get worse before a woman's period? Survey study, 2004 # How often does depression get worse before a woman's period? Depressed women had 1.34 more symptoms that got worse before their period compared to other times. Older women were more likely to experience worsening symptoms. Moderate study design 900 menstruating women ages 13 to 53 in Illinois; 58 with depressive disorders, 842 without ## What they did Cross-sectional study. 900 menstruating women ages 13 to 53 from Illinois completed psychiatric interviews and rated depression symptoms daily for two menstrual cycles. 58 women had depressive disorders and 842 were not depressed. ## What they found Depressed women had 1.34 symptoms that became worse premenstrually. Older women more often had symptoms worsen. Symptoms during the follicular phase were most severe for clinically depressed women, intermediate for subclinically depressed, and least severe for non-depressed. Only 56% of non-depressed women taking antidepressants were symptom-free all month; 44% still had symptoms premenstrually. ## What it means for you Premenstrual worsening of depression happens in some depressed women and is more common with older age. The study was limited to one U.S. state and does not explain why worsening happens. 900 Total women studied 1.34 Average extra symptoms worsening premenstrually 56% Non-depressed women on antidepressants symptom-free all month ## About the study Original title Premenstrual exacerbation of depressive disorders in a community-based sample in the United States Authors Hartlage SA, Brandenburg DL, Kravitz HM Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 2004 Study design Survey study Participants 900 What was tested None. Some women were taking antidepressants. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000138131.92408.b9](https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000138131.92408.b9) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Randomised trial, 2008 Does taking more antidepressant just before the period help depression that worsens then? Randomised trial, 2017 Does adding birth control to antidepressants help depression that worsens before your period? Randomised trial, 2008 Can adding aripiprazole to an antidepressant help premenstrual violence? Randomised trial, 2000 How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated? Randomised trial, 2000 Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗