---
title: Do women seeking PMS treatment actually have underlying mood or anxiety disorders?
description: About 39% of women seeking PMS treatment meet criteria for mood or anxiety disorders. Mood disorders were about twice as common as anxiety disorders.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-mood-and-anxiety-disorders-in-women-who-seek-treatment-for-1999/
---

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- Do women seeking PMS treatment actually have underlying mood or anxiety disorders?

Non-randomised trial, 1999

# Do women seeking PMS treatment actually have underlying mood or anxiety disorders?

About 39% of women seeking PMS treatment meet criteria for mood or anxiety disorders. Mood disorders were about twice as common as anxiety disorders.

 Early or limited evidence

206 women seeking PMDD treatment

## What they did

Researchers screened 206 women who called in response to advertisements for a PMDD treatment study. They asked each woman questions by phone based on a standard diagnostic interview tool to check for mood and anxiety disorders.

## What they found

About 39% (80 women) met criteria for mood or anxiety disorders. Mood disorders were noted almost twice as commonly as anxiety disorders.

## What it means for you

Many women who think they have only PMS actually have depression or anxiety that happens all month long, not just before their period. This is important because finding and treating these disorders early helps women recover better and reduces the risk of the disorders coming back.

39%

women meeting criteria for mood or anxiety disorders

206

women screened

almost twice

mood disorders compared to anxiety disorders

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in women who seek treatment for premenstrual syndrome Authors Bailey JW, Cohen LS Journal Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine Year 1999 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 80 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1181](https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1181)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

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?

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Cohort study, 2012

How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms?

Review, 1999

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder?

Randomised trial, 2020

How should premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed and treated?

Survey study, 2003

Is how much control women feel over their life linked to premenstrual symptoms?

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