--- title: Do emotional and behavioral symptoms of borderline personality disorder get worse before menstruation? description: Most emotional symptoms appeared to get worse in the middle-to-late luteal phase and around menstruation, then improved in the follicular phase. However, the url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perimenstrual-exacerbation-of-symptoms-in-borderline-personality-disorder-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do emotional and behavioral symptoms of borderline personality disorder get worse before menstruation? Cohort study, 2018 # Do emotional and behavioral symptoms of borderline personality disorder get worse before menstruation? Most emotional symptoms appeared to get worse in the middle-to-late luteal phase and around menstruation, then improved in the follicular phase. However, the study was very small and included only unmedicated women without painful periods. Early or limited evidence 15 unmedicated women with borderline personality disorder without dysmenorrhea ## What they did 15 unmedicated women with borderline personality disorder reported daily symptoms across 35 days. Researchers confirmed menstrual cycle phases using hormone tests (luteinizing hormone in urine and progesterone in saliva) and used the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System to identify symptoms that changed predictably with the cycle. ## What they found Most symptoms showed worsening in the middle luteal phase, peaked around menstruation, then improved in the follicular or ovulatory phase. Depressive symptoms had a different pattern, worsening in both the perimenstrual and follicular phases. Most women met criteria for clinically significant symptom exacerbation of at least 30% during the cycle. None of the women met diagnostic criteria for PMDD. ## What it means for you Women with borderline personality disorder may be particularly vulnerable to emotional symptoms worsening around menstruation. Doctors might consider tracking symptoms across menstrual cycles in these patients. However, this study was very small with only 15 women and included only unmedicated women without painful periods, so results may not apply to all women with this condition. 15 women studied 35 days of symptom tracking 0 women meeting PMDD criteria ## About the study Original title Perimenstrual exacerbation of symptoms in borderline personality disorder: evidence from multilevel models and the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System Authors Eisenlohr-Moul TA, Schmalenberger KM, Owens SA et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 2018 Study design Cohort study What was tested None (observational with hormone confirmation) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291718001253](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291718001253) ## Topics [Borderline personality disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bpd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) 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, 2023 Does the menstrual cycle affect how often women have suicidal thoughts? Cohort study, 2024 Does borderline personality disorder get worse at certain times in the menstrual cycle? Review, 2024 What do brain wave patterns show about PMS and PMDD? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗