Suicidality: what the research says

How common is suicidal thinking in women with PMDD?

Women with PMDD are seven times more likely to experience suicidal thinking than women without PMDD. Over 70% experience suicidal thoughts, and 1 in 3 attempt suicide.

Does estradiol prevent thinking problems before the period in women with suicidal thoughts?

Yes. Estradiol prevented drops in working memory and verbal fluency that otherwise happened before the period.

Can hormonal contraceptives or antidepressants reduce suicide risk in premenstrual disorders?

Hormonal contraceptives, especially combined pills, are associated with lower suicide risk. Antidepressants are associated with higher suicide risk, though this may reflect that sicker women used them.

Do women with premenstrual disorders have a higher risk of injury?

Yes. Women with premenstrual disorders were at higher risk of injury (37% higher), particularly suicidal behavior (2.26 times higher) and accidents (32% higher). These risks were strongest in the first 2 years after diagnosis.

Are women with PMS or PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide?

Yes. Pooling results from multiple studies, women with PMDD had a much higher chance of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts than women without these premenstrual problems.

Does PMDD increase the risk of suicidality?

Yes. Women with PMDD have significantly higher risk of suicidal thoughts (2.34 times higher), suicide attempts (2.13 times higher), and suicide plans (2.24 times higher).

Is there a link between the menstrual cycle and suicidal behaviour?

Yes. Studies with better research methods show that non-fatal suicidal behaviour is more common during the parts of the menstrual cycle when estrogen is lowest. This pattern is especially strong in women with PMS.

Are PMS and PMDD linked to suicidal thoughts and violence toward family?

Yes. Women with moderate-to-severe PMS had 1.76 times higher risk of suicidal thoughts, and women with PMDD had 1.88 times higher risk. Women with PMDD had 3.04 times higher likelihood of violence toward family.

How does sleep change across the menstrual cycle in women with psychiatric conditions and suicidal thinking?

Sleep varies across the menstrual cycle in women with psychiatric conditions. These patterns align with changes in mood and suicidal thinking, with some women having worse sleep around their period or in the luteal phase. This suggests sleep monitoring may help identify higher-risk periods.

How do menstrual cycle hormones affect suicide risk in women?

A review suggests hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, especially in the luteal phase, may affect brain chemistry and increase suicide risk in vulnerable women. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood.

Are women with PMDD more likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempts?

Yes. People with PMDD show clearly higher rates of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts than would be expected, though no study yet has tested treatments to reduce this risk.

Does suicidal thinking and self-harm follow the menstrual cycle in PMDD?

Yes. Women with PMDD show significant cyclic patterns in suicidal thoughts and self-harm urges, peaking in the late luteal phase and improving around menstruation. This pattern is strongest in those who meet PMDD criteria.

Can a spiritual emotional freedom technique delivered through an app help with PMS and sleep?

Yes, in this study the app-based technique improved sleep quality and reduced premenstrual syndrome scores.

Is PMS linked to mental health problems and stress in teenage girls?

Yes, PMS was strongly linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts in Polish teenage girls, along with stress and risky behaviors. However, finding a link doesn't prove PMS causes these problems.

Does experiencing stressful life events change how your mood varies during your menstrual cycle?

Yes. Women who experienced more stressful or traumatic life events show bigger mood and mental health changes during the premenstrual phase, particularly increases in suicidal thoughts.

Does the menstrual cycle affect daily changes in suicidal thoughts?

Yes, for women with suicidal ideation. They had worse suicidal thoughts and planning during certain menstrual cycle phases, particularly around menstruation, driven mainly by depression and hopelessness.

What are the experiences of self-harm and suicidal thoughts in women with PMDD?

Just under half of the women had deliberately harmed themselves during a PMDD crisis. 82% had suicidal thoughts during their luteal phase, and 26% had attempted to end their life. Women reported that diagnosis delays and damaged self-worth worsened their mental health.

Does the menstrual cycle affect how often women have suicidal thoughts?

Yes. Women with recent suicidal thoughts reported significantly more severe ideation during the perimenstrual phase (around their period) compared to other cycle phases. The cycle explained 25% of the change in suicidal thoughts.

Does estrogen and progesterone around the period help with suicidal thoughts?

In 26 women with suicidal thoughts, giving estrogen and progesterone before the period changed some brain chemicals that may relate to suicide risk. This is very early research with a small sample, so we cannot be sure yet.

Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls with premenstrual disorders have 4 to 7 times higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-injury, and suicide risk compared to boys and girls without the disorder. This suggests premenstrual disorders may cause much of the difference in mental health problems between teenage boys and girls.

Do hormone pills prevent suicidal thoughts from getting worse around menstruation?

Yes. Giving women estradiol and progesterone during the time when their natural levels drop (around menstruation) significantly reduced suicidal thoughts, depression, and feelings of rejection and burden compared to placebo.

How common are suicidal thoughts in women with PMDD, and what factors are associated with them?

About 4 in 10 women with confirmed PMDD reported current suicidal thoughts in the luteal phase. Those with previous psychological treatment and higher depression were more likely to have suicidal thoughts, while better perceived health was protective. We can be confident in this prevalence estimate.

How common are suicidal thoughts and self-harm in people with PMDD?

Suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts are very common in people with PMDD. About 72% report lifetime suicidal thoughts, 49% report planning, and 34% report attempts.

Is irregular menstrual cycle linked to thoughts of suicide?

Women with irregular menstrual cycles were 1.42 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than women with regular cycles. The association was strongest in younger women, those who started their period early, and those who were employed.

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder linked to suicide risk in women with mood disorders?

Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who have depression or bipolar disorder are 3.46 times more likely to have attempted suicide. However, this study only included women who already have mood disorders.

Does an oxaloacetate and vitamin C combination reduce emotional symptoms of PMS?

Yes. The supplement significantly improved depression, anxiety, stress, and aggression, with depression improving by 54.1% and suicidal ideation reduced by 47.9%.

Are suicide deaths more common during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

Women who died by suicide were more likely to be in the secretory or menstrual phase of their cycle compared to women who died from other causes. The reason for this association is not known.

Does the menstrual cycle affect the risk of suicide and psychiatric hospital admission?

Yes. During menstruation, the risk of suicide death is 26% higher, suicide attempts 17% higher, and psychiatric hospital admission 20% higher compared to other times of the cycle. During the premenstrual phase, psychiatric admission risk is 13% higher.

Is PMDD linked to suicide attempts?

Yes, women who attempted suicide were significantly more likely to have PMDD than women in the control group. However, regular PMS was not associated with suicide attempts.

Are mental health problems linked to irregular periods in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls with high stress are 1.88 times more likely to have irregular periods, those with depression are 2.01 times more likely, and those receiving counseling are 2.92 times more likely.

Do women with different types of premenstrual symptoms use different coping strategies?

Different symptom types relate to different impacts on health, but women used similar coping strategies regardless of their symptom type.

What psychiatric conditions are linked to PMDD in Korean women?

About 2.4% of Korean women experience PMDD. Women with PMDD were much more likely to have depression, anxiety, PTSD, alcohol problems, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts than women without PMDD.

Are suicide attempts more common during the menses?

Yes. The probability of attempting suicide during the menses was 1.68 times higher than the overall probability of a suicide attempt for any woman in the study population.

How common is PMDD and does it stick around?

PMDD affects 5.8% of young women and tends to persist. Most women with PMDD also have anxiety or other mental health conditions, use healthcare more, and have higher suicide rates.

Do suicide attempts happen more often at certain times of the menstrual cycle?

A review pooling data from five studies with 400 women found fewer suicide attempts in the third week of the cycle, suggesting hormones may influence suicide risk.

Do women attempt self-poisoning at certain times of their menstrual cycle?

No clear pattern was found. Women admitted for self-poisoning showed no relation between their menstrual cycle phase and when the attempt occurred.

Why do women have higher rates of depression than men?

Women in the US and other countries show higher depression rates than men. This may be due to biological factors like hormones or genetics, or psychological factors like discrimination, but the exact cause is unclear.

Do teen girls with ADHD have more suicidal thoughts when angry before their period?

Teen girls with ADHD are more likely to have PMDD and premenstrual anger. However, overall depression appears to be the main driver of suicide risk, not premenstrual anger alone.

Do girls who experienced childhood abuse or neglect have higher PMDD symptoms?

Yes. Girls who experienced childhood abuse or neglect reported higher PMDD symptoms compared to girls with limited abuse or neglect. This is a cross-sectional study, so we cannot know if maltreatment causes PMDD.

Do suicidal thoughts change across the menstrual cycle?

The study found no clear pattern of suicidal thoughts changing with cycle phases. However, feelings like depression, anger, and irritability (which do vary across the cycle) were linked to suicidal thoughts.

Among women with bipolar I disorder, who is more likely to also have PMDD?

About one-third (36.5%) of women with bipolar I disorder have PMDD. Those at higher risk have seasonal mood patterns, a history of suicide attempts, and a family history of mental illness.

Could early stress or past trauma make PMDD symptoms worse later in the cycle?

This research offers a possible explanation for why PMDD symptoms vary so much, and why related conditions can worsen before a period. It is only a theory, not tested on patients, so we don't yet know if it is true.

Is suicide more likely during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

Among 50 women who died by suicide, more deaths occurred during the early and late proliferative phases. However, the sample is very small and based only on deceased women with no living comparison group, so causation cannot be established.

What factors increase suicide risk in young women with PMDD?

About 28% of young women with PMDD have current suicide risk, with risk higher in those with panic disorder, depression, childhood trauma, or non-white skin color. The evidence is limited because only 128 women were assessed in one location.

Do brain chemistry genes shift across the menstrual cycle in women with mood changes?

Yes, genes that control a brain chemical called GABA do change across the menstrual cycle in women with mood disorders. However, the relationship is complex: both unusually high and unusually low gene activity can be linked to worsening mood symptoms like anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

Does PMDD increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts?

Yes, women with PMDD had much higher rates of suicidal thoughts (38.8%) and suicide attempts (28.6%), with depression, anxiety, and stress playing key roles in this risk.

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.

Is suicidal thinking more common in women with premenstrual disorders?

Yes. Women with premenstrual disorders have higher rates of suicidal thinking and attempts, especially if they are young (18-25), unemployed, have low income, or have depression or anxiety.

Can PMDD be severe enough to lead to self-harm, and does treatment help?

Yes. This case describes a young woman whose PMDD led to a self-harm attempt, and she improved within a month of starting treatment with fluoxetine.

Does childhood abuse increase premenstrual syndrome through suicidal thoughts?

Yes. Women who experienced childhood abuse were more likely to have PMS, partly through increased suicidal thoughts. Different types of abuse had slightly different patterns.

Does childhood trauma increase the risk of PMDD?

Yes. Women who experienced childhood trauma were about three times more likely to have PMDD symptoms than those who did not experience childhood trauma.

Is suicide more likely to happen during a particular phase of the menstrual cycle?

In this study of 91 women who died by suicide in India, about two-thirds were in the secretory (luteal, pre-period) phase of their cycle, hinting at a possible link between premenstrual hormonal changes and suicide risk, but the study cannot prove cause and effect.

Do women with PMS have increased risk of suicidal thoughts?

Yes. Nearly one-third of women with PMS symptoms reported new or worsening suicidal thoughts in the week before their period. Women with depression history, current depression, and childhood trauma were at highest risk.

Are women with PMDD more likely to think about or attempt suicide?

Yes. This review found that suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts were strongly linked to PMDD, even when other mental health conditions were taken into account.

Can severe PMS lead to thoughts of suicide?

Yes, severe forms of PMS, especially PMDD, can be connected to suicide thoughts and behaviors in women.

How common are suicidal thoughts and self-harm in people with PMDD?

Very high: 72% reported lifetime suicidal thoughts, 49% reported planning, 42% reported intent, 40% preparing for an attempt, 34% attempted suicide, and 51% reported self-harm. Most also had other mental health diagnoses.

Does the menstrual cycle affect suicide risk in teenage girls?

Evidence suggests the menstrual cycle may play a role in when teenage girls are at highest risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior. This is an emerging area of research with no definitive answers yet.

Are suicide attempts more common during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

Yes, 59% of suicide attempts occurred during the last 4 days of the luteal phase and during the 4 days of menses. However, the study could not explain why, since no depression, aggression, or other psychiatric features measured were related to this timing.

Is suicidal behavior linked to premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Some premenstrual syndrome symptoms were linked to both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in this study. However, this was only the first study on this topic, so more research is needed to confirm the link.

Do women who attempt suicide experience more menstruation-related problems?

More than half of women who attempted suicide reported premenstrual distress symptoms for two menstrual cycles. The study cannot prove menstrual problems caused suicide attempts, but suggests a possible connection.

Can severe head injury lead to PMDD?

Yes. A 17-year-old girl developed PMDD months after a severe traumatic brain injury. She needed antipsychotic medication to manage her symptoms.

Does suicide risk change across the menstrual cycle?

Suicide risk may increase at certain cycle points, especially in women with PMDD. However, no studies have actually tracked suicidal thoughts or attempts throughout the cycle to confirm this.

Can a combined oral contraceptive pill help PMDD in women who also have depression or anxiety?

One 34-year-old woman with PMDD along with depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions improved on a combined oral contraceptive pill. Her mood, anxiety, menstrual cramps, and ability to handle stress all got better.

Is there a link between menstrual cycle phase and fatal self-harm?

Most women who died by suicide were in the premenstrual (late secretory) phase (41.7%), suggesting a possible connection. However, this is a small autopsy study from one region in India with no comparison group, so cause and effect cannot be proven.

Is premenstrual syndrome associated with suicide risk personality traits?

Women with PMS or PMDD showed more personality traits linked to suicide risk, especially high anger, though this study involved women who had attempted suicide.

Is suicide more common during certain menstrual phases?

No significant difference in suicide occurred during any particular menstrual phase. However, the evidence is weak because the study was small and included only women who died by suicide.

Do women with OCD experience worse symptoms before their period?

About half (49.7%) do experience premenstrual worsening of OCD symptoms. These women show higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal thinking, and specific obsessions about sex or religion.

Is PMDD linked to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts?

Yes. In this large US survey, women with PMDD were more than twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts than women with no premenstrual symptoms, even after accounting for other factors.

Is suicide risk higher at certain times in the menstrual cycle?

Suicide attempts were more likely during menstruation. Women whose attempts occurred when estrogen and progesterone were lowest reported greater severity of suicide intent.

Does menstruation increase suicide risk?

The study found that 25% of women who died by suicide were menstruating, compared to 4.5% of the control group, suggesting a possible connection. However, the researchers emphasize serious methodological limitations.

Do hormone changes during the premenstrual phase relate to mood symptoms in women with mood disorders?

In women with bipolar disorder and major depression, progesterone and allopregnanolone levels during the premenstrual phase are linked to mixed mood features and suicidal ideas, particularly in those with bipolar disorder. We cannot be certain because the study is very small.

Is menstruation related to completed suicide?

54.46% of people who died by suicide were menstruating, compared to 6.75% in a control group. This suggests a possible association, but it is a preliminary finding and much more careful research is needed.

Does the menstrual cycle affect mood disorders?

Some women with mood disorders may experience worsening symptoms during the premenstrual period. Evidence is limited and study methods are inconsistent across available research.

Are suicidal attempts more likely during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

Yes. Suicidal attempts were most frequent during the menstrual phase. However, this study only looked at women already hospitalized for attempts, so it cannot tell us the true risk in the general population.

Are suicide attempts more common during the luteal phase in women with PMDD?

No. Suicide attempts during the luteal phase occurred equally often in women with PMDD (34%) and without PMDD (35%). However, PMDD was more common in women who attempted suicide than in the general population.

Is suicide risk linked to the menstrual cycle?

Women were more likely to attempt suicide during the follicular phase (early cycle). The reason is unclear, though low estrogen and progesterone in this phase may play a role, but hormones alone do not explain it.

Are psychiatric hospital admissions linked to the menstrual cycle?

Yes. About half of the women were admitted during the late luteal or early menstrual phase. Women with schizophrenia who were not suicidal or aggressive were admitted only in the postovulatory phase.

Does premenstrual worsening of panic disorder increase suicide risk in women?

Yes. Women with panic disorder who experienced premenstrual worsening had higher suicide risk scores and were more likely to be considered suicidal than women whose panic did not worsen premenstrually. This was independent of depression.

Are suicide attempts more common at certain times in the menstrual cycle?

Suicide attempts were more common during the follicular phase, especially during menstruation, than expected by chance. However, the methods for measuring cycle phase disagreed with each other, so more research is needed.

Do women attempt suicide more often at certain times in their menstrual cycle?

Yes. Suicide attempts were most common in the first week of the menstrual cycle (when the period starts), with 36% of attempts happening then. The fourth week (premenstrual) had 29%. Other weeks had lower rates (19% in week 2, 16% in week 3).

How common and severe are premenstrual symptoms in teenage girls?

Premenstrual symptoms are nearly universal. 88% reported moderate or worse symptoms and 56% reported extreme severity. Older teenage girls had significantly more intense symptoms than younger ones.

Is there a link between the menstrual cycle and suicide attempts?

The study found a possible difference in suicide attempts during pre-ovulation, but this finding was unreliable. Both groups visited hospitals more during pre-ovulation, suggesting the pattern may reflect hospital visiting patterns rather than a real link to suicide attempts.

How often do women experience suicidal thoughts during the premenstrual period?

About 10% of women reported suicidal ideas or death wishes during the premenstrual period, especially those with other PMS symptoms like depression and irritability, though we cannot prove PMS causes these thoughts.

Can severe depression linked to the menstrual cycle be treated?

Yes. One woman with severe psychotic depression that happened every month before her period improved completely with bupropion medication after many other treatments failed.

Are women more likely to need psychiatric hospital admission during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

Yes. 47% of psychiatric emergency admissions occurred during the para-menstrual phase (the 4-5 days before and during the start of menses), compared with 22% of hospital staff. This suggests menstrual cycle changes can worsen psychiatric symptoms in vulnerable women.

Are women more likely to die at certain times in their menstrual cycle?

No. Deaths from all causes were spread evenly across all phases of the menstrual cycle, with no clear pattern.

Are women with premenstrual dysphoric changes at higher risk for depression?

Yes. Women who report premenstrual dysphoric changes are more likely to have had previous episodes of major depression and are at higher risk for future episodes. They also face increased risk of suicidal, aggressive, or impulsive behavior during the premenstrual period.

Do suicide attempts happen more often at certain times of the menstrual cycle?

In women not using birth control, suicide attempts clustered in the first week of the menstrual cycle (42%) and after the fourth week (12%), when hormone levels are low. This pattern did not appear in women using birth control.

Is attempted suicide linked to when you are in your menstrual cycle?

Hospital records from two large mental hospitals showed psychiatric emergencies and attempted suicide were most common during the first 4 days of menstruation, compared with other times of the cycle.