Case-control study, 2000
Do women with panic disorder have different menstrual cycle patterns in anxiety and stress response?
Yes. Women with panic disorder showed stronger physical stress responses during the premenstrual phase and higher anxiety-related symptoms overall compared to controls.
What they did
Case-control study. Women with and without panic disorder completed stress tests and questionnaires on 4 occasions across 2 menstrual cycles: twice during the intermenstrual phase and twice during the premenstrual phase. Researchers measured skin conductance (a sign of physical stress) and psychological measures.
What they found
During the premenstrual phase, women with panic disorder showed larger skin conductance responses to anxiety-provoking stimuli than controls. Overall, women with panic disorder reported more severe menstrual symptoms relating to bodily sensations, higher anxiety sensitivity, more state and trait anxiety, greater fear of body sensations, and more illness-related concerns than controls.
What it means for you
Women with panic disorder may be more reactive to menstrual cycle changes, especially during the premenstrual phase. The study helps explain how menstrual changes and anxiety disorders interact. Sample size is not reported in the abstract, so the power and generalizability of findings are unclear.
4
test occasions
2
menstrual cycles studied
About the study
- Original title
- Psychophysiological, somatic, and affective changes across the menstrual cycle in women with panic disorder
- Authors
- Sigmon ST, Dorhofer DM, Rohan KJ et al.
- Journal
- Journal of consulting and clinical psychology
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.68.3.425
Topics
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