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Study, 2017

Do women with moderate to severe PMS have problems with attention and memory?

Yes. Women with moderate to severe PMS made more mistakes and had lower accuracy on attention and memory tests even though tests were done when they didn't have symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 13 women with moderate to severe PMS and 27 women with mild or no PMS

What they did

They tested 13 women with moderate to severe PMS and 27 women with mild or no PMS. Tests measured attention and memory during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, when PMS symptoms are not present.

What they found

Women with moderate to severe PMS had lower accuracy and more errors on attention and memory tests compared to women with mild or no PMS.

What it means for you

Women with moderate to severe PMS may have lasting attention and memory difficulties that don't go away even when symptoms are not present. However, the sample was small and tests were only done once during the cycle.

13

women with moderate to severe PMS

27

women with mild or no PMS

About the study

Original title
Subtle persistent working memory and selective attention deficits in women with premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Slyepchenko A, Lokuge S, Nicholls B et al.
Journal
Psychiatry research
Year
2017
Study design
Study
Participants
27
What was tested
None. Researchers tested existing groups of women.

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