--- title: Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? description: Yes. Sertraline was clearly better than placebo at improving how women with PMDD functioned and their quality of life, and improvements appeared by the second url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychosocial-functioning-in-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-before-2000/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? Randomised trial, 2000 # Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? Yes. Sertraline was clearly better than placebo at improving how women with PMDD functioned and their quality of life, and improvements appeared by the second month of treatment. Strong study design 243 women with PMDD from 12 university-affiliated sites ## What they did Randomly assigned 243 women with PMDD to take either sertraline or placebo for 3 menstrual cycles. Women first completed one cycle on placebo. Researchers measured social functioning, quality of life, and daily symptoms. ## What they found Before treatment, women with PMDD had normal functioning during the first half of their cycle but had functioning similar to women with depression during the second half. Sertraline improved social functioning, quality of life, and three specific symptoms: reduced productivity, interference with friends, and interference with relationships. Women who got much better were more likely to have better functioning at the start and showed larger improvements than those who only partially improved. Improvements were clear by the second cycle. ## What it means for you Sertraline helps women with PMDD feel and function better, with benefits appearing quickly. The study shows how much the second half of the cycle affects women with PMDD, but only tested this medication in university settings. 243 women studied 3 treatment cycles 12 university sites ## About the study Original title Psychosocial functioning in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder before and after treatment with sertraline or placebo Authors Pearlstein TB, Halbreich U, Batzar ED et al. Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 2000 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Sertraline vs placebo for 3 menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v61n0205](https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v61n0205) ## 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/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) 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 treatments work for PMDD? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Case report, 2023 Can stopping ovulation help severe PMDD when other treatments do not work? Study, 2022 What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD? Survey study, 2001 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder and how is it related to other psychiatric conditions? Review, 2009 What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗