Study, 2019
Can an educational health program reduce depression and anxiety in women with PMS?
Yes. An 8-week program on healthy living and mental health reduced depression and anxiety in women with PMS. Depression dropped from 15 to 8.01 on average, and anxiety dropped from 9.1 to 4.73.
What they did
A total of 4,294 women attended a weekly 8-week program at a community center. Each meeting had a 45-minute video lecture from a health professional followed by group discussion about exercise, plant-based diet, sleep, positive thinking, and other healthy behaviors. Women completed mental health tests at the start and end.
What they found
Among 1,013 women with PMS: baseline depression averaged 15 and dropped to 8.01. Baseline anxiety averaged 9.1 and dropped to 4.73. Women without PMS also improved. After 8 weeks, 131 women who started with PMS no longer reported PMS symptoms.
What it means for you
A program focused on healthy lifestyle and thinking can reduce depression and anxiety in women with PMS. However, the study did not include a comparison group, and we do not know if improvements lasted beyond 8 weeks or why some women stopped reporting PMS.
1,013
women with PMS in program
15 to 8.01
depression scores before and after
9.1 to 4.73
anxiety scores before and after
About the study
- Original title
- SUN-201 Depression and Anxiety Decreases among Females with Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- Seidel V, Ramirez F, Nedley N
- Journal
- Journal of the Endocrine Society
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- 8-week program: 45-minute weekly video lectures plus group discussion about exercise, plant-based diet, sleep, and positive thinking
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/js.2019-sun-201
Topics
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