Survey study, 2018
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.
What they did
Researchers in Durango City, Mexico interviewed 437 women about their menstrual cycle, symptoms before their period, and whether they had ever thought about suicide or attempted suicide. They used statistical methods to look for connections between period symptoms and suicidal behavior.
What they found
29 women (6.6%) reported suicidal thoughts and 15 women (3.4%) reported suicide attempts. Suicidal thoughts were linked to irregular periods, low back pain, wanting to eat certain foods or eating more than usual, guilty feelings, and aggression. Suicide attempts were linked to irregular periods and wanting to eat certain foods or eating more. The connections between these symptoms and suicidal behavior appeared stronger for some symptoms than others.
What it means for you
Irregular periods and food cravings may be linked to higher risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts in women with premenstrual symptoms. This suggests women with these specific symptoms may need extra mental health support. The main limits are that this was not an experiment (so it shows links but not causes) and it was only done in one city in Mexico.
6.6%
had suicidal thoughts
3.4%
attempted suicide
437
women interviewed
About the study
- Original title
- Association Between Suicidal Behavior and Clinical Features of Premenstrual Syndrome and Menstrual History: A Cross Sectional Study
- Authors
- Alvarado-Esquivel C
- Journal
- Journal of clinical medicine research
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 437
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3571w
Topics
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