---
title: Which personality traits predict PMDD or severe PMS? | Niyora
description: Women with anxious or cyclothymic personality traits are more likely to have PMDD and severe PMS. About 13.2% of women studied had PMDD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/frequency-and-predictors-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-its-association-2023/
---

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- Which personality traits predict PMDD or severe PMS?

Survey study, 2023

# Which personality traits predict PMDD or severe PMS?

Women with anxious or cyclothymic personality traits are more likely to have PMDD and severe PMS. About 13.2% of women studied had PMDD.

 Moderate study design

408 women (online survey)

## What they did

408 women filled out online surveys about their demographics, PMS symptoms, and personality temperament traits. Researchers looked for patterns between temperament and PMS severity.

## What they found

About 13.2% had PMDD and 14.5% had moderate to severe PMS. Women with PMDD were more likely to have had a past psychiatric diagnosis, family history of psychiatric illness, suicide attempts, or anxious temperament. Anxious and cyclothymic personality traits were linked to worse PMS symptoms.

## What it means for you

Personality traits like anxiety may be connected to more severe PMS and PMDD. This may help identify women who need extra support. The study cannot show whether these traits cause worse PMS or if severe PMS leads to these traits.

408

women

13.2%

PMDD rate

14.5%

moderate-severe PMS rate

## About the study

Original title Frequency and predictors of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its association with affective temperaments Authors İrem Ekmekçi Ertek, Mehmet Ünler, Aysegul Yay-Pence et al. Journal Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Year 2023 Study design Survey study Participants 408 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5505/kpd.2023.87049](https://doi.org/10.5505/kpd.2023.87049)

## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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