Case-control study, 2017
Do women with PMS panic more during a breathing test, and does cycle timing matter?
Yes. Women with PMS felt more intense panic symptoms during a CO2 breathing challenge, but only in the days just before their period, not earlier in the cycle.
What they did
Researchers compared 11 women with clinically significant PMS to 26 women without PMS (37 total). Each woman did a CO2 (carbon dioxide) breathing challenge, which is a standard lab test that can trigger panic-like symptoms, during two points in their cycle: the late follicular phase (days 6-12) and the premenstrual phase (within 5 days before their period).
What they found
During the late follicular phase, women with and without PMS responded to the CO2 challenge in a similar way. During the premenstrual phase, women with PMS reported significantly more intense panic symptoms in response to the challenge than women without PMS.
What it means for you
This suggests that the extra sensitivity to panic-triggering sensations seen in PMS may be specific to the premenstrual phase rather than a constant trait. The study is small (only 11 women with PMS) and used a lab challenge rather than real-life symptoms, so results may not generalize widely.
37
Total participants
11
Women with PMS
26
Women without PMS
About the study
- Original title
- The influence of the menstrual cycle on reactivity to a CO 2 challenge among women with and without premenstrual symptoms
- Authors
- Nillni YI, Pineles SL, Rohan KJ et al.
- Journal
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 37
- What was tested
- CO2 (carbon dioxide) biological challenge test, done in two different menstrual cycle phases.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2016.1236286
Topics
Related studies
Non-randomised trial, 2008
Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?
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, 2023
Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls?
Cohort study, 2015
What factors predict anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth?
Review, 2014
Are mental health problems linked to gynecological conditions like PMS and PMDD?