---
title: Does PMDD increase the risk of depression or bipolar disorder later?
description: Yes. Women with PMDD were 2.58 times more likely to develop depression and 2.50 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder compared to women without PMDD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/risks-of-major-affective-disorders-following-a-diagnosis-of-premenstrual-2023/
---

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- Does PMDD increase the risk of depression or bipolar disorder later?

Cohort study, 2023

# Does PMDD increase the risk of depression or bipolar disorder later?

Yes. Women with PMDD were 2.58 times more likely to develop depression and 2.50 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder compared to women without PMDD. These conditions also developed earlier in women with PMDD.

 Strong study design

8,222 women in Taiwan with PMDD diagnosis and no prior mood disorder history, plus 32,888 matched control women

## What they did

Cohort study using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database. Included 8,222 women with a diagnosis of PMDD and no history of depression or bipolar disorder, plus 32,888 matched control women without PMDD. Followed them over time to see who developed depression or bipolar disorder.

## What they found

Women with PMDD were 2.58 times more likely to develop depression and 2.50 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder. Women with PMDD developed depression at average age 37.11 years versus 41.59 years for controls. Women with PMDD developed bipolar disorder at average age 35.59 years versus 42.02 years for controls. Time from enrollment to depression: 2.97 years for PMDD group versus 5.33 years for controls.

## What it means for you

Women with PMDD should be aware they have a higher chance of developing depression or bipolar disorder, and these conditions may appear years earlier. Doctors should watch for mood disorders in women diagnosed with PMDD. This is from Taiwan, so results may not apply everywhere. The study is observational, so we cannot say PMDD causes these conditions.

2.58

times higher risk of depression

2.50

times higher risk of bipolar disorder

8,222

women with PMDD studied

## About the study

Original title Risks of major affective disorders following a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A nationwide longitudinal study Authors Li DJ, Tsai SJ, Bai YM et al. Journal Asian journal of psychiatry Year 2023 Study design Cohort study Participants 8,222 What was tested None. Observational study following women with existing diagnoses. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103355](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103355)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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