--- title: What risk factors cause PMDD to develop? | Niyora description: Traumatic events, anxiety disorders, and high daily stress significantly increase the risk of developing PMDD. Women who already had subthreshold PMDD at the url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/risk-factors-for-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-in-a-community-sample-of-young-2004/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What risk factors cause PMDD to develop? Cohort study, 2004 # What risk factors cause PMDD to develop? Traumatic events, anxiety disorders, and high daily stress significantly increase the risk of developing PMDD. Women who already had subthreshold PMDD at the start were at highest risk. Moderate study design 1488 young women aged 14-24 in a community sample ## What they did Researchers followed 1488 young women aged 14-24 for about 42 months starting in 1995. They used diagnostic interviews to check for PMDD and PTSD, and tracked stressful life events and daily hassles. ## What they found 3.0% of women developed PMDD over the study period. Traumatic events increased the odds of developing PMDD 4.2 times. A history of anxiety disorder increased odds 2.5 times. High daily hassles increased odds 1.6 times. Having subthreshold PMDD at baseline was the strongest predictor, increasing odds 11.0 times. ## What it means for you Trauma and anxiety appear to trigger PMDD in some women, but we do not know how. The main limitation is that this included only young women in one country followed for under 4 years. 3.0% incidence of PMDD 4.2 odds increase from traumatic events 2.5 odds increase from anxiety disorder ## About the study Original title Risk factors for premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a community sample of young women: the role of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder Authors Perkonigg A, Yonkers KA, Pfister H et al. Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 2004 Study design Cohort study Participants 1,488 What was tested None (observational study tracking naturally occurring trauma and stress) Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v65n1004](https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v65n1004) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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, 2019 How common is PMDD in teenage girls? Review, 2000 What conditions beyond depression can antidepressants treat? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Survey study, 2025 Is the PSST a good screening tool for PMS in Bangladesh? Cohort study, 2022 Do adverse childhood experiences increase risk of PMS and PMDD? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗