--- title: Are PMDD and eating disorders related? | Niyora description: Possibly. PMDD and eating disorders share high rates of mood and anxiety disorders and a personality trait called harm avoidance, but this small study cannot url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-eating-disorders-1997/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are PMDD and eating disorders related? Case-control study, 1997 # Are PMDD and eating disorders related? Possibly. PMDD and eating disorders share high rates of mood and anxiety disorders and a personality trait called harm avoidance, but this small study cannot confirm they share a common cause. Early or limited evidence 12 women with PMDD, 10 with eating disorders, 10 healthy controls, all matched for age ## What they did Case-control study comparing 12 women with PMDD (mean age 28) to 10 with eating disorders (mean age 25) and 10 healthy controls matched for age. Used diagnostic interviews, personality questionnaires, and eating attitude tests. ## What they found Women with PMDD and eating disorders both had high rates of mood and anxiety disorders. 16.6 percent of women with PMDD also had eating disorders, compared to 2.3 percent in the general population. Both groups had significantly higher harm avoidance (a personality trait linked to serotonin) than controls. ## What it means for you PMDD and eating disorders may have some shared features, but this was a small study. Much larger research is needed to determine whether they truly share the same biological cause. 12 Women with PMDD 16.6% PMDD women with comorbid eating disorder 2.3% Rate in general population ## About the study Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and eating disorders Authors Verri A, Nappi RE, Vallero E et al. Journal Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache Year 1997 Study design Case-control study Participants 10 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/0333102497017s2008](https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102497017s2008) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Case-control study, 2010 Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women? Survey study, 2002 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder among women in Morocco? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Survey study, 2022 How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age? Case-control study, 2019 Does the menstrual cycle affect how women's brains process emotions? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗