Survey study, 2021
Do women with PMS have real trouble with focus and memory, or just feel like they do?
Women with PMS report problems with focus, memory, and organization, and these self-reported problems are strongly linked to PMS symptoms. However, when tested on actual focus and memory tasks, they do not perform noticeably worse.
What they did
Cross-sectional study comparing 157 Mexican women with no PMS, PMS, or PMDD. They rated their own executive function (focus, planning, memory) during their period and regular cycle, and took performance tests on Stroop, Trail Making, and Letter-Number Sequencing tasks.
What they found
Self-reported executive function problems were strongly associated with PMS and PMDD symptoms during the luteal phase (late cycle). Performance tests showed only weak associations with symptoms. The groups were 78 women without PMS, 67 with PMS, and 12 with PMDD.
What it means for you
Women with PMS likely experience real difficulty with focus and memory during their period, and this is closely linked to their other PMS symptoms. However, actual test performance may not show measurable deficits. This was a small study in one country.
157
women studied
67
with PMS
12
with PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Self-reported executive function, and not performance-based measures, strongly associates with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Frida Itzel Meza-Moreno, María José Pimienta-Alcaraz, María Fernanda Vázquez-Valdez et al.
- Journal
- Salud Mental
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 78
- What was tested
- Executive function testing and symptom assessment
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2021.012
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2020
What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life?
Randomised trial, 2019
Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD?
Review, 2013
What treatments work best for PMDD?
Systematic review, 2026
Do digital tools and apps help reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms?
Survey study, 2026
Do women with PMS have lasting problems with focus and impulse control throughout their cycle?
Survey study, 2026
Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different?