Study, 1976
How much higher do anxiety and depression get before your period?
Anxiety and depression are noticeably higher before your period than in the middle of your cycle, but they are still much lower than in people with depression or anxiety disorders.
What they did
50 women aged 30-45 who had given birth were measured for anxiety and depression at two points: before their period and in the middle of their cycle using standard measurement tools.
What they found
Before the period, anxiety and depression scores were clearly higher than at midcycle. These scores were much lower than scores for people with depression or anxiety disorders. General baseline anxiety levels were low and did not match the premenstrual increases.
What it means for you
If you have PMS, your anxiety and depression may rise noticeably before your period, but they typically stay below the levels seen in depression or anxiety disorders. This group included only women aged 30-45 who had given birth, so results may differ for other groups.
50
women
30-45
age range
About the study
- Original title
- The magnitude of premenstrual anxiety and depression
- Authors
- Golub S
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 1976
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 50
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197601000-00002
Topics
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