Survey study, 2007
Are personality traits different between women with PMDD and women with major depression?
Personality traits are mostly similar between PMDD and depression during the second half of the cycle. Both groups were more likely to show a trait of caution and worry about harm than healthy women, but personality tests could not reliably distinguish PMDD from depression.
What they did
Researchers gave 51 women with PMDD, 39 women with major depression, and 52 healthy women a personality questionnaire during the late second half of their cycle (days 23-28). The questionnaire measured three traits: tendency to seek new things, tendency to be cautious about harm, and sensitivity to rewards.
What they found
Women with PMDD and women with depression both showed higher scores on caution about harm compared to healthy women. Women with depression showed lower scores on sensitivity to rewards. The personality test results were similar between the PMDD and depression groups, so the test could not distinguish them.
What it means for you
PMDD and major depression may share common personality traits, especially caution about harm. The main limitation is that women were tested once during the late cycle only, without comparison to other cycle phases.
51
women with PMDD
39
women with depression
52
healthy women
About the study
- Original title
- A comparison of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire in premenstrual dysphoric disorder and major depressive disorder
- Authors
- Hsu SC, Liu CY, Hsiao MC
- Journal
- Comprehensive psychiatry
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 52
- What was tested
- None. This compared personality traits between groups.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.02.006
Topics
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