Case-control study, 2024
Can short mindfulness or rumination exercises shift mood differently across the cycle in PMDD?
Yes. Short mindfulness exercises boosted positive mood more in women with PMDD during the premenstrual (late luteal) phase than in women without PMDD, while short rumination exercises worsened mood and awareness for everyone, regardless of cycle phase or PMDD status.
What they did
60 women with PMDD and 60 women without PMDD did brief, in-the-moment exercises of either ruminative (dwelling on problems) or mindful (present-moment) self-focus during everyday life, on two days in the follicular phase and two days in the late luteal phase. Researchers tracked momentary mood, rumination, present-moment awareness, and self-acceptance each time.
What they found
Compared with healthy controls, women with PMDD showed a stronger boost in positive mood after mindful self-focus specifically during the late luteal phase; there was no group difference during the follicular phase. Regardless of PMDD status or cycle phase, rumination exercises immediately increased negative mood and rumination and reduced present-moment awareness, while mindfulness exercises increased self-acceptance.
What it means for you
This points to mindfulness practice timed to the premenstrual phase as a possible way to help mood in PMDD, and suggests avoiding rumination may help everyone. The study used brief induced exercises rather than a full mindfulness treatment program, so it does not prove a therapy works, only that these short mental exercises shift mood in the moment.
60 / 60
Women per group (PMDD / controls)
2
Cycle phases studied
2
Days assessed per phase
About the study
- Original title
- Induced ruminative and mindful self-focus in daily life across the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Nayman S, Schricker IF, Grammatikos IF et al.
- Journal
- Behaviour research and therapy
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 60
- What was tested
- Brief induced rumination vs. brief induced mindful self-focus, done in daily life
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104630
Topics
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