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.
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
Topics
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