Survey study, 2013
Does having PMS or PMDD increase the risk of postpartum depression?
Yes. Women with a history of PMS or PMDD are nearly twice as likely to develop postpartum depression.
What they did
Researchers screened women for postpartum depression using questionnaires. Women who screened positive were interviewed and assessed for a history of PMS or PMDD.
What they found
Women with PMS or PMDD were 1.97 times more likely to have postpartum depression. History of PMS or PMDD added 2% more to explaining depression risk beyond other factors like age and financial status. The complete model explained 13% of postpartum depression risk.
What it means for you
Women with a history of PMS or PMDD should be monitored for depression during and after pregnancy. The main limit is that PMS or PMDD was assessed from memory, which may not be accurate.
1.97
Risk increase for postpartum depression
2%
Added variance from PMS history
13%
Total depression risk explained
About the study
- Original title
- Examination of premenstrual symptoms as a risk factor for depression in postpartum women
- Authors
- Buttner MM, Mott SL, Pearlstein T et al.
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0323-x
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?
Cohort study, 2025
Do women with a history of PMS or PMDD have more depression during pregnancy and after birth?
Case-control study, 2024
Do steroid hormone levels change differently across the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
Review, 2023
What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle?
Cohort study, 2023
Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?
Survey study, 2022
What causes PMS and PMDD and what new treatments are being studied?