---
title: Is attempted suicide linked to when you are in your menstrual cycle?
description: Hospital records from two large mental hospitals showed psychiatric emergencies and attempted suicide were most common during the first 4 days of menstruation
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/suicide-and-the-menstrual-cycle-1967/
---

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- Is attempted suicide linked to when you are in your menstrual cycle?

Study, 1967

# Is attempted suicide linked to when you are in your menstrual cycle?

Hospital records from two large mental hospitals showed psychiatric emergencies and attempted suicide were most common during the first 4 days of menstruation, compared with other times of the cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

Women admitted to two large English mental hospitals

## What they did

Hospital admission records from two large English mental hospitals were analyzed to see when psychiatric emergencies, attempted suicide, and depression occurred during women's menstrual cycles.

## What they found

The highest rate of acute psychiatric disturbance, attempted suicide, and depression occurred during the first 4 days of menstruation. The second highest rate was during the 4 premenstrual days, and the third highest was around midcycle.

## What it means for you

Hospital-based data can be delayed because it takes time to arrange admission, so the timing in hospital records may not reflect when crises actually happened. A faster way to collect data might show different timing.

4

first menstrual days - highest psychiatric emergencies

4

premenstrual days - second highest emergencies

midcycle

third highest emergencies

## About the study

Original title Suicide and the menstrual cycle Authors Mandell AJ, Mandell MP Journal JAMA Year 1967 Study design Study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/jama.1967.03120220094022](https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1967.03120220094022)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)

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