---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect psychological symptoms differently in women with PTSD?
description: Psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety were worse during the early follicular phase compared to the midluteal phase. Women with PTSD showed w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-effects-on-psychological-symptoms-in-women-with-ptsd-2015/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does the menstrual cycle affect psychological symptoms differently in women with PTSD?

Case-control study, 2015

# Does the menstrual cycle affect psychological symptoms differently in women with PTSD?

Psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety were worse during the early follicular phase compared to the midluteal phase. Women with PTSD showed worse phobic anxiety in the early follicular phase, while women without PTSD did not show this pattern.

 Moderate study design

49 trauma-exposed women, some with PTSD and some without PTSD

## What they did

Case-control study of 49 trauma-exposed women, some with PTSD and some without. Researchers measured psychological symptoms during the early follicular phase (days 2-6) and midluteal phase (6-10 days after the LH surge) of the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Overall, total psychological symptoms, depression, and phobic anxiety were increased in the early follicular phase compared to midluteal phase. Women with PTSD showed significantly more phobic anxiety in the early follicular versus midluteal phase, whereas women without PTSD showed no difference in phobic anxiety across the cycle.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle appears to worsen fear-related symptoms in women with PTSD specifically, not in other trauma-exposed women. This suggests PTSD symptoms may be particularly sensitive to menstrual cycle hormones. However, this is a small study and the mechanism is not clear.

0.81

Effect size depression early vs mid cycle

0.81

Effect size phobic anxiety overall

0.63

PTSD cycle phase interaction

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle effects on psychological symptoms in women with PTSD Authors Nillni YI, Pineles SL, Patton SC et al. Journal Journal of traumatic stress Year 2015 Study design Case-control study Participants 49 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/jts.21984](https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21984)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2025

How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?

Randomised trial, 2024

Does curcumin reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in women with PMS and dysmenorrhea?

Study, 2026

Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

Survey study, 2024

Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles?

Survey study, 2024

Are menstrual cycle symptoms related to sleep problems and mental health in female athletes?

Cohort study, 2023

Is the mid-luteal phase a vulnerable time for mood problems?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗