---
title: How do PMDD and depression affect pain sensitivity and stress response?
description: Women with PMDD felt pain sooner and more intensely from cold exposure, and had weaker stress responses. Women with a history of depression showed lasting cha
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prior-depression-pmdd-and-pain-biological-mechanisms-2019/
---

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- How do PMDD and depression affect pain sensitivity and stress response?

Case-control study, 2019

# How do PMDD and depression affect pain sensitivity and stress response?

Women with PMDD felt pain sooner and more intensely from cold exposure, and had weaker stress responses. Women with a history of depression showed lasting changes in pain and stress response even after the depression ended.

 Early or limited evidence

38 women, including 17 with PMDD and 21 without; 13 with history of depression and 25 never depressed

## What they did

Case-control study with 38 women. Researchers tested pain sensitivity using cold water and tourniquet tasks, then measured blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones at rest and during mental stress tasks.

## What they found

PMDD women had lower pain thresholds and tolerance to cold water (greater pain sensitivity) and blunted blood pressure responses to stress. Women with prior depression history showed persistent changes in pain processing and stress response, including different relationships between blood pressure and pain tolerance.

## What it means for you

Pain and stress response mechanisms work differently in PMDD and depression. This is a very small study, so we cannot be sure these findings apply to all women with PMDD or depression. The findings suggest biological pathways underlying these conditions may be distinct.

38

women total

17

with PMDD

21

without PMDD

## About the study

Original title Prior depression, PMDD, and pain: biological mechanisms Authors Rebecca R. Klatzkin Journal Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) Year 2019 Study design Case-control study Participants 38 What was tested None; observational comparison Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.17615/vq9f-mz60](https://doi.org/10.17615/vq9f-mz60)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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