---
title: Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?
description: Relationship functioning improved more with sertraline at symptom onset, mainly because it reduced anger and irritability. However, work productivity and soci
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/does-symptom-onset-treatment-with-sertraline-improve-functional-impairment-for-2023/
---

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- Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?

Randomised trial, 2023

# Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?

Relationship functioning improved more with sertraline at symptom onset, mainly because it reduced anger and irritability. However, work productivity and social activities did not improve clearly.

 Strong study design

Women with PMDD at 3 university sites (90 in sertraline group, 94 in placebo)

## What they did

A controlled trial at 3 sites where 90 women took sertraline (25-100 mg) and 94 took placebo, both starting when symptoms appeared. They measured how much their work, hobbies, social life, and relationships were affected over 2 cycles.

## What they found

Relationship functioning improved by 1.39 points with sertraline compared to 0.76 points with placebo. Anger and irritability reduction appeared to explain why relationships improved with treatment.

## What it means for you

Taking sertraline only when symptoms start may help with relationship problems in PMDD by reducing anger. However, this finding is from one trial and needs to be confirmed in other studies.

90

Women in sertraline group

94

Women in placebo group

1.39 vs 0.76

Relationship improvement in points

## About the study

Original title Does Symptom-Onset Treatment With Sertraline Improve Functional Impairment for Individuals With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?: A Randomized Controlled Trial Authors Yonkers KA, Altemus M, Gilstad-Hayden K et al. Journal Journal of clinical psychopharmacology Year 2023 Study design Randomised trial Participants 94 What was tested Sertraline 25-100 mg started when symptoms appear vs placebo Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/jcp.0000000000001700](https://doi.org/10.1097/jcp.0000000000001700)

## 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/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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## Related studies

Randomised trial, 1997

Does sertraline reduce PMDD symptoms and improve women's ability to function?

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Survey study, 2023

Which PMDD symptoms cause the most impairment and do they all belong in one condition?

Cohort study, 2022

What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?

Interview study, 2019

Which PMDD symptoms are most common in college students?

Randomised trial, 2017

Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?

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