Survey study, 1990
Does alcohol use change during the premenstrual phase, and how does it relate to PMS symptoms?
8 of 14 women drank differently during the premenstrual phase. Women who drank more premenstrually had worse symptoms, especially anger and social problems, while those who drank less reported more physical pain.
What they did
14 women spent 35 days on a research ward where they could earn alcohol or money by completing tasks. A 7-day drug-free baseline was followed by 21 days when alcohol was available, then another 7-day drug-free period. Researchers measured premenstrual symptoms and tracked drinking patterns.
What they found
8 of 14 women changed their alcohol use premenstrually. Of these, 5 drank more premenstrually and scored higher on 12 of 18 symptom factors with significantly worse hostility and anger, impaired social functioning, and hysteroid features (p less than 0.05, 0.01). 3 women drank less premenstrually and reported more pain and physical discomfort. 6 women whose drinking stayed the same were relatively asymptomatic.
What it means for you
Some women appear to drink more as a response to premenstrual symptoms, particularly mood-related ones, which may then worsen their overall symptom profile. This study was very small (14 women) and conducted in an artificial hospital setting, so the results may not reflect real life.
14
women studied
8
changed drinking premenstrually
35
days of observation
About the study
- Original title
- Alcohol use and premenstrual symptoms in social drinkers
- Authors
- Mello NK, Mendelson JH, Lex BW
- Journal
- Psychopharmacology
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 6
- What was tested
- Alcohol availability (21-day observation)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/bf02244221
Topics
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