Study, 1982
Is premenstrual affective syndrome linked to sexual trauma in psychiatric patients?
In psychiatric inpatients, women with premenstrual affective syndrome were much more likely to have abnormal sexual histories, including trauma, compared to women without premenstrual affective syndrome.
What they did
Researchers examined 45 female hospital patients with schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, or both. They assessed whether each woman met criteria for premenstrual affective syndrome and reviewed her sexual history.
What they found
Of the 45 women, 28 met criteria for premenstrual affective syndrome. Of those 28, 16 had abnormal sexual histories. Only 1 of the 17 women without premenstrual affective syndrome had an abnormal sexual history. Among the 12 women who had both depression and borderline personality disorder, 9 had both premenstrual affective syndrome and abnormal sexual histories. All 6 women who had been raped met criteria for premenstrual affective syndrome.
What it means for you
This suggests a link between premenstrual affective syndrome and sexual trauma. The main limitation is that this studied only psychiatric hospital patients, who may differ from women in the general population. We cannot determine whether trauma causes symptoms, symptoms cause trauma effects, or another factor causes both.
45
women studied
28
with premenstrual affective syndrome
16
of the 28 had abnormal sexual histories
About the study
- Original title
- Sexual histories and premenstrual affective syndrome in psychiatric inpatients
- Authors
- Friedman RC, Hurt SW, Clarkin J et al.
- Journal
- The American journal of psychiatry
- Year
- 1982
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 17
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1176/ajp.139.11.1484
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 1986
Is premenstrual syndrome more common in women with low sexual desire?
Cohort study, 2023
Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders?
Review, 1989
Are mental health conditions linked to the reproductive cycle?
Study, 2026
Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Cohort study, 2022
How common are suicidal thoughts and self-harm in people with PMDD?