---
title: What did researchers in the 1980s understand about how the menstrual cycle affects mood?
description: This older review says many women notice mood changes across their cycle, and the researchers' own work found hormone disturbances and psychological difficult
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-and-the-menstrual-cycle-1984/
---

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- What did researchers in the 1980s understand about how the menstrual cycle affects mood?

Survey study, 1984

# What did researchers in the 1980s understand about how the menstrual cycle affects mood?

This older review says many women notice mood changes across their cycle, and the researchers' own work found hormone disturbances and psychological difficulties in women with premenstrual syndrome, but the condition was still poorly understood and under-researched.

 Early or limited evidence

Not a specific study population; a review of existing research including the authors' own patient studies

## What they did

This is a review article summarising the authors' own research and other studies on mood and the menstrual cycle, including theories about biological, psychological and social causes of premenstrual tension syndrome.

## What they found

The authors found evidence of disturbances in ovarian hormones and impaired psychological functioning in women with PMS. They note that research has been hampered by inconsistent definitions of PMS and methodological difficulties, and argue that treatment should address both biological and psychological aspects.

## What it means for you

This is a historical overview, not new data. It shows that even decades ago, PMS was understood to involve both hormones and psychology, but the authors themselves call for much more research.

## About the study

Original title Mood and the menstrual cycle Authors Dennerstein L, Spencer-Gardner C, Burrows GD Journal Journal of psychiatric research Year 1984 Study design Survey study What was tested None (review article) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0022-3956(84)90044-x](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3956(84)90044-x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)

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.

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