--- title: Are personality traits like aggressiveness linked to PMDD? | Niyora description: Women with PMDD had higher aggressiveness and neuroticism than controls, and aggressiveness correlated with irritability severity and brain structure changes. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/personality-and-cortical-architecture-in-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are personality traits like aggressiveness linked to PMDD? Case-control study, 2026 # Are personality traits like aggressiveness linked to PMDD? Women with PMDD had higher aggressiveness and neuroticism than controls, and aggressiveness correlated with irritability severity and brain structure changes. However, these were small findings in a limited study. Early or limited evidence Women with PMDD and healthy controls ## What they did Researchers compared personality traits between women with PMDD and healthy controls using the Swedish Universities Scale of Personality. Women with PMDD then had brain scans using MRI during their symptomatic luteal phase. The team checked whether personality traits related to symptom severity and brain structure. ## What they found Women with PMDD had higher scores in neuroticism and aggressiveness compared to controls. Aggressiveness was positively correlated with irritability and anger severity, though not significant after correcting for multiple testing. Aggressiveness was negatively correlated with cortical complexity of the parahippocampal gyrus. ## What it means for you Personality traits like aggressiveness could help identify women at risk for PMDD and might relate to brain structure differences. The main limitation is the study was small and most findings were not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. ## About the study Original title Personality and cortical architecture in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Bücklein-Ehlers E, Dubol M, Derntl B et al. Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2026 Study design Case-control study What was tested Swedish Universities Scale of Personality, MRI brain scan Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01677-3](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-026-01677-3) Original abstract PURPOSE: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has been associated with altered grey matter architecture in a trait-like manner. Personality traits, shaped largely by genetics and linked to depressive disorders, may relate to structural properties of the brain and could represent a potential factor mediating vulnerability for PMDD. However, these possible associations remain largely unexplored. METHODS: The present study assessed personality traits in participants with PMDD and healthy controls, as well as how personality is related to symptom severity and cortical surface measures in PMDD. Healthy controls and patients completed the Swedish Universities Scale of Personality. Following prospective validation of the PMDD diagnosis, patients had their brain scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the symptomatic luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Personality of controls and patients was compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Associations of personality with symptom severity and brain surface parameters were tested through correlation analysis. RESULTS: PMDD was associated with higher scores in neuroticism and aggressiveness. Aggressiveness was positively correlated with the severity of irritability/anger, though not significant after correcting for multiple testing. Regarding cortical structural measures, aggressiveness was negatively correlated with cortical complexity of the parahippocampal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Considering neuroticism and aggressiveness during screening for PMDD could contribute to the identification of risk factors and personalized treatment of females suffering from PMDD. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Randomised trial, 2025 Does taking an antidepressant only during the second half of your cycle reduce anger and aggression in PMDD? Randomised trial, 2000 How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated? Randomised trial, 1997 Does sertraline reduce PMDD symptoms and improve women's ability to function? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗