---
title: Do negative thoughts affect mood more strongly in women with PMDD?
description: Yes. In women with PMDD, negative thoughts had stronger effects on later negative mood, especially in the late luteal phase. This suggests mindfulness-based a
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/reciprocal-effects-between-cognitive-and-affective-states-in-women-with-2020/
---

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- Do negative thoughts affect mood more strongly in women with PMDD?

Case-control study, 2020

# Do negative thoughts affect mood more strongly in women with PMDD?

Yes. In women with PMDD, negative thoughts had stronger effects on later negative mood, especially in the late luteal phase. This suggests mindfulness-based approaches could help.

 Moderate study design

61 women with PMDD and 61 healthy women

## What they did

61 women with PMDD and 61 healthy women used smartphones to report their mood, rumination (dwelling on negative thoughts), and self-acceptance 8 times a day over 2 consecutive days in each of 4 menstrual cycle phases.

## What they found

Women with PMDD showed more negative affect and rumination, and less positive affect and self-acceptance toward the end of the cycle. In PMDD women, rumination had stronger effects on later negative affect than in controls, most strongly in the late luteal phase.

## What it means for you

In PMDD, negative thinking patterns may drive mood changes more than in healthy women. This suggests therapies targeting rumination and self-criticism, like mindfulness, could help. The main limitation is the short observation period of only 2 days per cycle phase.

61

women with PMDD

61

healthy comparison women

8

daily reports per day

## About the study

Original title Reciprocal effects between cognitive and affective states in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: An Ecological Momentary Assessment study Authors Beddig T, Reinhard I, Ebner-Priemer U et al. Journal Behaviour research and therapy Year 2020 Study design Case-control study Participants 61 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2020.103613](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2020.103613)

## Topics

[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/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Mindfulness and meditation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-mindfulness/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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

Survey study, 2020

What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life?

Review, 2013

What treatments work best for PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2026

Which works better for PMDD: cognitive-behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?

Systematic review, 2026

Do digital tools and apps help reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Survey study, 2026

Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different?

Case-control study, 2024

Can short mindfulness or rumination exercises shift mood differently across the cycle in PMDD?

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