Survey study, 2022
Is early life trauma more common in women with PMDD?
Yes. 83% of women with PMDD experienced early life trauma, much higher than the general Australian population, suggesting a strong link between childhood trauma and PMDD.
What they did
Researchers examined medical records from 100 women diagnosed with PMDD at an Australian clinic. They documented the types of trauma each woman experienced (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect) and the ages at which they occurred (0-5, 6-10, 11-14, or 15-18 years).
What they found
83% of women with PMDD had experienced early life trauma. Emotional abuse was most common at 71%. All trauma types were more prevalent in women with PMDD than in the general Australian population. Trauma occurred at similar rates across all age groups (59% to 66%), and 51.8% of women experienced trauma during all four age periods.
What it means for you
Early life trauma, especially emotional abuse or chronic trauma throughout childhood, may be linked to PMDD. However, this study only examined one Australian clinic, so findings may not apply to other countries. The study cannot prove that trauma causes PMDD.
83%
had early life trauma
71%
experienced emotional abuse
51.8%
experienced trauma across all age groups
About the study
- Original title
- The prevalence of early life trauma in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Authors
- Kulkarni J, Leyden O, Gavrilidis E et al.
- Journal
- Psychiatry research
- Year
- 2022
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 100
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114381
Topics
Related studies
Study, 2026
Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?
Survey study, 2025
Do adverse childhood experiences increase PMS and menstrual symptoms in adulthood?
Cohort study, 2025
Do pain sensitivity and negative thinking explain how trauma and stress cause PMS or PMDD?
Study, 2025
Do women with PMDD who experienced childhood trauma have more trouble recognizing emotions?
Cohort study, 2024
Is childhood trauma related to premenstrual disorders?
Cohort study, 2022
Do adverse childhood experiences increase risk of PMS and PMDD?