---
title: Are PMS and PMDD symptoms real, or are they just from expecting to have them?
description: Symptoms appear real. Women with confirmed PMDD reported consistent symptoms across cycle phases regardless of knowing the study focused on menstruation. Expe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/using-daily-ratings-to-confirm-premenstrual-syndrome-late-luteal-phase-dysphoric-1992-ff68f6/
---

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- Are PMS and PMDD symptoms real, or are they just from expecting to have them?

Randomised trial, 1992

# Are PMS and PMDD symptoms real, or are they just from expecting to have them?

Symptoms appear real. Women with confirmed PMDD reported consistent symptoms across cycle phases regardless of knowing the study focused on menstruation. Expectations had only a small effect on symptom reporting.

 Moderate study design

31 women with PMDD and 34 asymptomatic women

## What they did

Daily symptom ratings were collected from 31 women with PMDD (late luteal phase dysphoric disorder) and 34 asymptomatic women. Participants were randomly assigned to either know or not know that the study examined menstrual cycles.

## What they found

Women with PMDD showed consistent patterns of higher symptom ratings during mid-luteal, premenstrual, and menstrual phases, regardless of knowing the study focus. Asymptomatic women who knew the study focus showed slightly higher cyclicity in their ratings compared to those unaware, but these differences were small and mostly not statistically significant.

## What it means for you

Real PMS and PMDD symptoms appear to be genuine and not primarily driven by expectation or knowing about the menstrual cycle connection. This supports that the condition is a true physiological phenomenon, not just psychological. Expectation can have a small effect on symptom reporting in people without the condition.

31

women with PMDD

34

asymptomatic women

## About the study

Original title Using daily ratings to confirm premenstrual syndrome/late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. Part I. Effects of demand characteristics and expectations Authors Gallant SJ, Popiel DA, Hoffman DM et al. Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1992 Study design Randomised trial Participants 34 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199203000-00003](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199203000-00003)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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## Related studies

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Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Systematic review, 2026

How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect?

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