---
title: Do women with depression during perimenopause also have premenstrual symptoms?
description: Some do - about 21% of depressed perimenopausal women had premenstrual dysphoria compared to 3% of non-depressed women. However, not all depressed perimenopau
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-symptoms-and-perimenopausal-depression-2006/
---

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- Do women with depression during perimenopause also have premenstrual symptoms?

Study, 2006

# Do women with depression during perimenopause also have premenstrual symptoms?

Some do - about 21% of depressed perimenopausal women had premenstrual dysphoria compared to 3% of non-depressed women. However, not all depressed perimenopausal women have premenstrual symptoms.

 Moderate study design

70 depressed perimenopausal women and 35 non-depressed perimenopausal women from a menopause clinic

## What they did

70 depressed perimenopausal women and 35 non-depressed perimenopausal women reported their symptoms and tracked mood daily during one menstrual cycle.

## What they found

26% of depressed and 9% of non-depressed women reported premenstrual symptoms, and 31% of depressed and 20% of non-depressed women showed cyclical mood changes. Only 21% of depressed and 3% of non-depressed women met criteria for premenstrual dysphoria. Self-reported symptoms did not reliably predict which women met full premenstrual dysphoria criteria.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual dysphoria is more common in women with depression during perimenopause, but it is not present in all of them, and simply asking women about symptoms isn't reliable. Findings are limited to one menstrual cycle of tracking.

70

depressed perimenopausal women

35

non-depressed women

21%

depressed women with premenstrual dysphoria

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual symptoms and perimenopausal depression Authors Richards M, Rubinow DR, Daly RC et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 2006 Study design Study Participants 70 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.133](https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.133)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

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## Related studies

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