---
title: Do different types of psychotherapy (talking therapy) help with premenstrual symptoms?
description: Yes, cognitive behavioral therapy and other talking therapies help reduce premenstrual symptoms, though most research focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychotherapy-modalities-for-premenstrual-change-a-systematic-review-2025/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do different types of psychotherapy (talking therapy) help with premenstrual symptoms?

Systematic review, 2025

# Do different types of psychotherapy (talking therapy) help with premenstrual symptoms?

Yes, cognitive behavioral therapy and other talking therapies help reduce premenstrual symptoms, though most research focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy.

 Moderate study design

Women with premenstrual change

## What they did

They reviewed 34 studies on different psychotherapy approaches for premenstrual change, examining how well they worked and whether people found them acceptable.

## What they found

All 34 studies reported that the therapies helped reduce symptoms. Twenty studies examined cognitive behavioral therapy, nine examined relaxation techniques, two examined emotion-focused couples therapy, two examined motivation-based therapies, and two examined expressive therapies. However, only seven studies asked participants what they thought of the treatment.

## What it means for you

Talking therapy can help with premenstrual symptoms, and CBT is the most studied approach. Main gaps: we do not know what women prefer or find most acceptable, and there is little research on tailored therapies designed specifically for premenstrual change.

34

studies reviewed

20

studies on CBT

7

assessed acceptability

## About the study

Original title Psychotherapy Modalities for Premenstrual Change: A Systematic Review Authors Megan E. Buys Journal Women & Therapy Year 2025 Study design Systematic review What was tested Various psychotherapy modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and others Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2025.2534636](https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2025.2534636) Original abstract

Research on psychotherapeutic support for premenstrual change (PMC) is limited. This review synthesizes recent literature on psychotherapeutic modalities for PMC through reviewing the efficacy/effectiveness and client/participant acceptability of these modalities. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies investigated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one investigated emotion-focused couples therapy, two investigated motivation-based therapies, nine investigated relaxation techniques, and two investigated expressive therapies. All studies reported efficacy and/or effectiveness, yet only seven reported on acceptability. Findings highlight a research gap in client perspectives and the dominance of CBT. Future studies should develop and critically assess tailored therapies that reflect the multifaceted nature of PMC.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-cbt/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)

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

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2025

How effective are non-hormonal treatments for severe PMS?

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Review, 2024

What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?

Systematic review, 2021

Can cognitive behavioral therapy treat PMS without medication?

Systematic review, 2012

How effective are cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants for PMS and PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗