Randomised trial, 1996
Do personality traits change with the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
Women with PMDD have certain personality traits like passivity and aggression that are consistent with higher depression and mood elevation compared with controls. These traits do not change between menstrual cycle phases.
What they did
Personality traits were measured using a standardized test in 15 women with PMDD and 15 control women during the follicular phase (early cycle) and luteal phase (before menstruation).
What they found
Compared with controls, women with PMDD had fewer compulsive traits but more passive-aggressive and borderline traits, and higher depression and hypomania scores. Menstrual cycle phase did not significantly affect personality traits in either group. The depression and hypomania suggest a relationship with mood disorders.
What it means for you
Women with PMDD show certain personality features and mood symptoms that persist throughout the menstrual cycle, suggesting PMDD may relate to underlying mood disorders rather than being purely cycle-dependent. The main limitation is the very small sample size of only 15 women per group.
15
women with PMDD
15
control women
About the study
- Original title
- Personality traits in LLPDD and normal controls during follicular and luteal menstrual-cycle phases
- Authors
- Parry BL, Ehlers CL, Mostofi N et al.
- Journal
- Psychological medicine
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 15
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700033833
Topics
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