--- title: Are women with PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide? description: Yes. This review found that suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts were strongly linked to PMDD, even when other mental health conditions were taken into accou url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/suicidality-in-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-a-systematic-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are women with PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide? Systematic review, 2021 # Are women with PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide? Yes. This review found that suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts were strongly linked to PMDD, even when other mental health conditions were taken into account. Early or limited evidence Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), based on findings pooled from 10 published studies (1989-2019) ## What they did Researchers reviewed existing published studies on PMDD and suicide. They searched five research databases for papers published between 1989 and 2019 and found 10 studies that fit their criteria: 3 on suicidal thoughts, 5 on suicide attempts, and 2 covering both. ## What they found Suicidal thoughts, ideation, plans and attempts were strongly associated with PMDD, and this link held even after accounting for other psychiatric conditions. However, women with PMDD did not have more severe suicide attempts (in frequency, impulsivity or lethality) and did not attempt suicide more often during the luteal (premenstrual) phase than suicide attempters without PMDD. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD should be seen as a high risk group for suicidality, so spotting and treating PMDD symptoms matters for suicide prevention. This is a review of existing studies, not new data collection, and it draws on only 10 papers, so the overall evidence base it summarises is limited. 10 studies included in review 1989-2019 years of literature searched 5 databases searched ## About the study Original title Suicidality in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: a systematic literature review Authors Osborn E, Brooks J, O'Brien PMS et al. Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2021 Study design Systematic review Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01054-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01054-8) Original abstract Previous research has identified how menstruation is an important factor in both attempted and completed suicides for women. The purpose of this review was to outline (a) the risk profile for suicidality in women who were identified to experience Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a condition characterized by severe physical and psychological changes that occur during the luteal menstrual phase, and (b) the implications of these findings for clinical practice. A systematic literature review was conducted using five databases to identify any peer-reviewed articles published between 1989 and 2019. Ten papers eligible for inclusion were identified: three pertaining to suicide cognitions, five to suicide attempts and two to both cognitions and attempts. Findings showed that suicidal thoughts, ideation, plans and attempts were strongly associated with experiences of PMDD and that these findings were independent of psychiatric co-morbidities. However, women with PMDD did not present with more severe risk profiles for suicide attempts (in terms of frequency, impulsivity and lethality) or make more frequent attempts during the luteal menstrual phase compared with suicide attempters without PMDD. Women with PMDD should be considered a high risk group for suicidality; thus, identifying and treating symptoms are vital in reducing suicide attempts. Implications for clinical practice are outlined in the discussion. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) 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 Randomised trial, 2022 Do hormone pills prevent suicidal thoughts from getting worse around menstruation? Interview study, 2025 How common is suicidal thinking in women with PMDD? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Systematic review, 2021 Are women with PMS or PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗