Systematic review, 2025
Do different types of psychotherapy (talking therapy) help with premenstrual symptoms?
Yes, cognitive behavioral therapy and other talking therapies help reduce premenstrual symptoms, though most research focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy.
What they did
They reviewed 34 studies on different psychotherapy approaches for premenstrual change, examining how well they worked and whether people found them acceptable.
What they found
All 34 studies reported that the therapies helped reduce symptoms. Twenty studies examined cognitive behavioral therapy, nine examined relaxation techniques, two examined emotion-focused couples therapy, two examined motivation-based therapies, and two examined expressive therapies. However, only seven studies asked participants what they thought of the treatment.
What it means for you
Talking therapy can help with premenstrual symptoms, and CBT is the most studied approach. Main gaps: we do not know what women prefer or find most acceptable, and there is little research on tailored therapies designed specifically for premenstrual change.
34
studies reviewed
20
studies on CBT
7
assessed acceptability
About the study
- Original title
- Psychotherapy Modalities for Premenstrual Change: A Systematic Review
- Authors
- Megan E. Buys
- Journal
- Women & Therapy
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Systematic review
- What was tested
- Various psychotherapy modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and others
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2025.2534636
Original abstract
Research on psychotherapeutic support for premenstrual change (PMC) is limited. This review synthesizes recent literature on psychotherapeutic modalities for PMC through reviewing the efficacy/effectiveness and client/participant acceptability of these modalities. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies investigated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one investigated emotion-focused couples therapy, two investigated motivation-based therapies, nine investigated relaxation techniques, and two investigated expressive therapies. All studies reported efficacy and/or effectiveness, yet only seven reported on acceptability. Findings highlight a research gap in client perspectives and the dominance of CBT. Future studies should develop and critically assess tailored therapies that reflect the multifaceted nature of PMC.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
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