--- title: Do women with depression experience worsening of symptoms before their period? description: Yes. 64% of women with depression reported worsening of symptoms in the 5 to 10 days before their period. This worsening appears linked to longer-lasting depr url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/self-reported-premenstrual-exacerbation-of-depressive-symptoms-in-patients-2005/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with depression experience worsening of symptoms before their period? Study, 2005 # Do women with depression experience worsening of symptoms before their period? Yes. 64% of women with depression reported worsening of symptoms in the 5 to 10 days before their period. This worsening appears linked to longer-lasting depression. Moderate study design 433 premenopausal women with major depression (not using oral contraceptives) ## What they did Researchers asked 433 premenopausal women with major depression who were not taking oral contraceptives whether they experienced worsening of depressive symptoms in the 5 to 10 days before their period. They compared women who reported worsening with those who did not, looking at how long their current depression had lasted, physical health problems, and specific symptoms. ## What they found 64% of the 433 women reported worsening before their period. Women reporting worsening had a longer current depression episode (30.7 months on average compared to 13.5 months) and more physical health problems. They reported more heaviness and body complaints, stomach problems, and slowness. They were less likely to report flat emotional responses. ## What it means for you Most women with depression experience worsening before their period, and this appears linked to how long their depression lasts. The main limit is that this was based on what women reported about their own experience, not measured in a controlled setting. 64% women reporting premenstrual worsening 30.7 months average depression duration with worsening 13.5 months average depression duration without worsening ## About the study Original title Self-reported premenstrual exacerbation of depressive symptoms in patients seeking treatment for major depression Authors Kornstein SG, Harvey AT, Rush AJ et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 2005 Study design Study Participants 1,500 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291704004106](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291704004106) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[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? 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? Randomised trial, 2017 Does adding birth control to antidepressants help depression that worsens before your period? Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Randomised trial, 2001 Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗