Interview study, 2025
What kind of therapy do people with premenstrual conditions want?
People want therapists trained in their condition to validate them and help them gain control and self-compassion. They also want broader social recognition of premenstrual conditions.
What they did
Researchers asked people experiencing premenstrual change (PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual exacerbation) to answer open-ended survey questions and participated in interviews. They analyzed responses using thematic analysis to identify common themes.
What they found
Four main themes emerged. First, therapists need knowledge of these conditions and must validate and individualize support. Second, people want therapy to help them gain control. Third, they want therapy to help with self-compassion. Fourth, people want broader social recognition, structural change, and visibility of these conditions beyond clinical settings.
What it means for you
People feel standard therapy and society do not adequately understand these conditions. This qualitative study describes what people want rather than testing whether such therapies work.
4
main themes identified
About the study
- Original title
- ¿p#1 No “Band-Aid Solutions”: Psychotherapy Preferences for Premenstrual Change
- Authors
- Buys M
- Journal
- Authorea Preprints
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Interview study
- What was tested
- None, qualitative study of therapy preferences
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.22541/au.176338450.06009792/v1
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2021
Do women with depression or bipolar disorder experience worse symptoms before or during their menstrual cycle?
Randomised trial, 2000
How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated?
Study, 2026
Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?
Review, 2026
How do social factors like stigma and unequal care responsibilities affect premenstrual symptoms?
Survey study, 2022
Do different healthcare providers differ in recognizing and treating PMDD?
Survey study, 2026
What attitudes do nursing students have toward premenstrual dysphoric disorder?