Survey study, 2015
Does PMDD affect mood and quality of life more than PMS?
Yes, women with PMDD had higher anxiety and depression scores and lower quality of life than women with PMS in every area measured.
What they did
49 women with PMDD and 43 women with PMS completed questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, disability in daily activities, and quality of life.
What they found
Women with PMDD had higher anxiety and depression scores than women with PMS. Women with PMDD also had lower quality of life scores in all areas measured. Both groups reported medium levels of disability in daily activities, but the PMDD group experienced more severe effects.
What it means for you
PMDD is more serious than PMS. It causes greater psychological problems and greater loss of quality of life. Both conditions affect how much people can do daily, but PMDD has a bigger impact.
49
women with PMDD
43
women with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Comparison of the effects of PMDD and pre-menstrual syndrome on mood disorders and quality of life: a cross-sectional study
- Authors
- Balık G, Hocaoğlu Ç, Kağıtcı M et al.
- Journal
- Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 43
- What was tested
- None - comparison between PMDD and PMS groups
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2014.991283
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2025
Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions?
Non-randomised trial, 2008
Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Randomised trial, 2025
Does relaxation training help women with PMDD?
Survey study, 2025
Is the PSST a good screening tool for PMS in Bangladesh?
Survey study, 2023
Is PMDD diagnosis associated with more severe depression and anxiety and lower well-being?