Case-control study, 2022
Do women with PMS in addiction treatment experience more alcohol cravings?
Women in addiction treatment with PMS had higher alcohol cravings than community women. PMS symptoms predicted cravings in the treatment group but not the general population, and PMS was much more common in women with substance use disorders.
What they did
Between 2018 and 2020, researchers compared 151 women in addiction treatment centers to 101 community women. They used questionnaires to measure PMS symptoms, alcohol use problems, and alcohol cravings.
What they found
PMS was significantly more common in the addiction treatment group (48.3 percent) than in the community group (26.7 percent). PMDD was also more common (16.6 versus 5.9 percent). In the treatment group, alcohol problems predicted 50 percent of cravings, and PMS symptoms also contributed to cravings. In the community group, PMS did not predict cravings.
What it means for you
Women with substance use disorders have much higher rates of PMS and PMDD. If they have PMS symptoms, they may experience stronger alcohol cravings, which could increase their risk of relapse. This is important for addiction treatment planning. The study shows a link but doesn't prove PMS causes craving.
48.3%
addiction treatment women with PMS
26.7%
community women with PMS
16.6%
addiction treatment women with PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome predicts alcohol craving in women with substance use disorders
- Authors
- Qurishi R, Drenth JPH, De Jong CAJ
- Journal
- Women & health
- Year
- 2022
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 151
- What was tested
- None; observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2022.2084212
Topics
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