---
title: What kinds of PMS symptoms tend to occur together? | Niyora
description: PMS symptoms cluster into two groups: mood and behavior symptoms (which are most common) and physical and thinking symptoms (which are less common). These gro
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1989/
---

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- What kinds of PMS symptoms tend to occur together?

Survey study, 1989

# What kinds of PMS symptoms tend to occur together?

PMS symptoms cluster into two groups: mood and behavior symptoms (which are most common) and physical and thinking symptoms (which are less common). These groups stay the same throughout the entire menstrual cycle.

 Moderate study design

100 women diagnosed with PMS

## What they did

One hundred women with PMS recorded 18 different symptoms every day for one complete menstrual cycle. Researchers analyzed which symptoms tended to occur together.

## What they found

Two main symptom groups emerged. The first group contained mood and behavior symptoms and was most dominant. The second group contained physical and thinking symptoms. Mood symptoms stayed together throughout the cycle and were the most important symptoms. Behavior symptoms showed up most in the second half of the cycle and before menstruation. Physical symptoms were less common than mood symptoms. Thinking symptoms mainly showed up before menstruation.

## What it means for you

Mood and behavior symptoms are the most important PMS symptoms to identify and treat. The main limitations are that there was no control group of healthy women to compare to, and the study only tracked one menstrual cycle.

100

women with PMS studied

18

symptoms tracked daily

2

main symptom groups identified

## About the study

Original title Characteristics of premenstrual syndrome Authors York R, Freeman E, Lowery B et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 1989 Study design Survey study Participants 100 What was tested None (daily symptom tracking) Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2927856/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2927856/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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