Survey study, 2025
Does psychiatry ignore how the menstrual cycle affects mental health?
Yes. The menstrual cycle stage affects mental health symptoms across different disorders, and it influences serious outcomes like suicide and hospital admission. This connection is often overlooked by doctors.
What they did
Researchers reviewed evidence showing that menstrual cycle symptoms affect mental health diagnoses and outcomes. They noted that premenstrual dysphoric disorder is now recognized in international disease classifications.
What they found
Menstrual cycle stage can change mental health symptoms across different mental health conditions. Existing hormonal treatments can help, but the opportunity is underutilized by psychiatrists.
What it means for you
Doctors should ask female patients about how their menstrual cycle affects their mental health. This is a practical opportunity to improve diagnosis and treatment that is currently being missed.
About the study
- Original title
- The menstrual cycle: an overlooked vital sign in psychiatry?
- Authors
- Marwick KF, Reilly TJ, Allan S et al.
- Journal
- BMJ mental health
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None; opinion and review paper
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2024-301463
Original abstract
We argue that psychiatry has overlooked a significant modifiable risk factor for mental illness in female patients: cyclical symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder has recently been included in the International Classification of Diseases-11, while there is growing evidence that menstrual cycle stage can impact mental health symptoms transdiagnostically and influence important outcomes such as suicide or admission to hospital. Intervention is possible using existing widely available hormonal treatments. Asking patients about the relationship between their menstrual cycle and mental health is an opportunity to improve diagnosis and treatment that should no longer be neglected.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
Topics
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