---
title: Does progesterone or behavior therapy work better than placebo for PMS?
description: No. Over half of women in all three groups improved, but there were no significant differences between progesterone, placebo pills, or behavior therapy.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparison-of-progesterone-placebo-and-behavioral-psychotherapy-in-the-treatment-1990/
---

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- Does progesterone or behavior therapy work better than placebo for PMS?

Randomised trial, 1990

# Does progesterone or behavior therapy work better than placebo for PMS?

No. Over half of women in all three groups improved, but there were no significant differences between progesterone, placebo pills, or behavior therapy.

 Moderate study design

76 women with premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

76 women with PMS kept a diary for 2 months and had an initial assessment. They were randomly assigned to progesterone treatment, placebo pills, or behavior therapy. Progress was rated by independent assessors at 3 and 6 months.

## What they found

More than half of the women showed some improvement in all groups. There were no significant differences between the three treatments. Women taking progesterone or placebo reported side effects, and many stopped treatment.

## What it means for you

Neither progesterone nor behavior therapy was clearly better than placebo for PMS. Main limits: negative finding so a larger study might find a benefit, and poor compliance with drug treatments.

76

women enrolled

3

month follow-up

6

month follow-up

## About the study

Original title Comparison of progesterone, placebo and behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Roslyn Corney, Ruth Stanton, Robert Newell et al. Journal Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology Year 1990 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Progesterone treatment versus placebo pills versus behavior therapy Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674829009084416](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829009084416)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)

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