---
title: Should doctors check whether mood symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle before treating them?
description: This paper says yes. It argues doctors treating women of childbearing age for mood symptoms should always consider whether the menstrual cycle plays a role, u
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/recognition-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-mood-disorders-2023/
---

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- Should doctors check whether mood symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle before treating them?

Case report, 2023

# Should doctors check whether mood symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle before treating them?

This paper says yes. It argues doctors treating women of childbearing age for mood symptoms should always consider whether the menstrual cycle plays a role, using one woman's case as an example.

 Early or limited evidence

One woman with cycle-linked mood swings and irritability; broader discussion of women of childbearing age with mood symptoms.

## What they did

The authors describe one woman with mood swings and irritability. They look at how her hormonal cycle related to her symptoms and compare how psychiatrists and gynecologists tend to classify and treat similar symptoms differently. They base their treatment suggestions on existing summaries of research and gynecological guidance, since no psychiatric guideline for PMDD exists yet.

## What they found

PMDD has been part of the DSM-5 since 2014 and affects 3-8% of all women who can have children. For the woman described, recognizing and treating the hormonal side of her mood symptoms also helped her deal with other problems she was facing. Psychiatrists and gynecologists use different approaches for similar symptoms.

## What it means for you

For women with mood symptoms that may be tied to their cycle, it could help to have doctors specifically look for a hormonal pattern, since treating that may ease other difficulties too. This comes from a single patient example, not a large study, so it cannot prove how well this works in general.

3-8%

Share of women of childbearing age affected by PMDD

2014

Year PMDD was added to the DSM-5

## About the study

Original title [Recognition and treatment of premenstrual mood disorders] Authors Terwisscha van Scheltinga AF, Terwisscha van Scheltinga JA Journal Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie Year 2023 Study design Case report What was tested Recognizing and treating the hormonal, menstrual-cycle-related part of mood symptoms, compared with standard psychiatric treatment. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36734689/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36734689/)

## 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/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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

Survey study, 2020

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Survey study, 2026

Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different?

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How does the menstrual cycle affect concentration and work productivity?

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