--- title: Do women with PMDD who have never had depression differ from those who have? description: Women with PMDD and no past depression history tend to be more educated and more likely to have experienced relationship breakdown, but are otherwise similar url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-who-did-or-2001/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD who have never had depression differ from those who have? Cohort study, 2001 # Do women with PMDD who have never had depression differ from those who have? Women with PMDD and no past depression history tend to be more educated and more likely to have experienced relationship breakdown, but are otherwise similar to women with PMDD who have had depression. Early or limited evidence 33 women aged 36-44 with PMDD diagnosis, selected from a community sample of 513. ## What they did Researchers studied 513 older premenopausal women aged 36-44 using daily symptom tracking to diagnose PMDD. They compared the 14 women with PMDD and no depression history to the 19 women with PMDD and a depression history on education, smoking, marital status, and reproductive history. ## What they found Women with PMDD and no depression history were more educated and had more often experienced marital disruption. There were no clear differences in smoking history or reproductive characteristics between the two groups. ## What it means for you PMDD may exist as a distinct condition separate from depression in some women, particularly those with higher education and relationship stress. The study is very small (33 women total) and limited to one age group (36-44), so findings may not apply to younger women or other populations. 33 Women with PMDD in the study 19 With depression history 14 Without depression history ## About the study Original title Characteristics of women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) who did or did not report history of depression: a preliminary report from the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles Authors Soares CN, Cohen LS, Otto MW et al. Journal Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine Year 2001 Study design Cohort study Participants 19 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/152460901753285778](https://doi.org/10.1089/152460901753285778) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2014 Are mental health problems linked to gynecological conditions like PMS and PMDD? Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Study, 2006 Do women with depression during perimenopause also have premenstrual symptoms? Review, 2004 How should PMDD be treated with antidepressants? Cohort study, 2002 How common is PMDD in midlife women, and what raises the risk? Survey study, 2002 What treatments work for depression linked to the menstrual cycle and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗