---
title: Does partial sleep deprivation help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: Not directly. Women with PMDD improved after recovery sleep (getting normal sleep) but not from the sleep deprivation itself, and placebo effects cannot be ru
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/early-versus-late-partial-sleep-deprivation-in-patients-with-premenstrual-1995/
---

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- Does partial sleep deprivation help PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1995

# Does partial sleep deprivation help PMDD symptoms?

Not directly. Women with PMDD improved after recovery sleep (getting normal sleep) but not from the sleep deprivation itself, and placebo effects cannot be ruled out.

 Moderate study design

23 women with PMDD and 18 healthy control women

## What they did

Randomized crossover trial in 23 women with PMDD and 18 healthy controls during the premenstrual phase. Participants tried two types of partial sleep deprivation: early-night (sleep 3 to 7 a.m.) and late-night (sleep 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.), each followed by full recovery sleep.

## What they found

Women with PMDD showed significantly lower depression ratings after recovery sleep compared to baseline in both conditions. Ratings on the day after deprivation (before recovery) tended to be lower but were not significantly different. Healthy women showed no mood changes. Depressive retardation (slowed thinking and movement) was the most responsive symptom.

## What it means for you

Unlike in major depression, sleep deprivation itself did not help PMDD. Improvement came only after recovery sleep, suggesting placebo effects may be involved. The clinical significance is unclear, and this treatment is not established for PMDD.

23

Women with PMDD

18

Healthy control women

## About the study

Original title Early versus late partial sleep deprivation in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and normal comparison subjects Authors Parry BL, Cover H, Mostofi N et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1995 Study design Randomised trial Participants 23 What was tested Early-night sleep deprivation, late-night sleep deprivation, and recovery sleep Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.152.3.404](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.152.3.404)

## 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/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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