--- title: Do women with PMDD have depression symptoms outside the luteal phase? description: Yes. Even women with minor or moderate depression symptoms when not premenstrual were about 1.9 times more likely to have PMDD, suggesting PMDD is a variant o url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/symptoms-of-depression-in-late-luteal-phase-dysphoric-disorder-a-variant-of-mood-2005/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have depression symptoms outside the luteal phase? Cohort study, 2005 # Do women with PMDD have depression symptoms outside the luteal phase? Yes. Even women with minor or moderate depression symptoms when not premenstrual were about 1.9 times more likely to have PMDD, suggesting PMDD is a variant of depression that becomes worse premenstrually rather than appearing only premenstrually. Moderate study design 43 women with PMDD, 85 women without PMDD ## What they did A prospective study where women recorded their symptoms daily for at least 2 menstrual cycles. Then 43 women diagnosed with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (an earlier name for PMDD) and 85 women without it were interviewed using structured psychiatric interviews during the follicular phase. Only women without other psychiatric disorders were included. ## What they found Women with minor or moderate depression symptoms had an odds ratio of 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4, p<0.001) for PMDD per 1-point increase on a depression scale. For emotional and affective symptoms, the odds ratio was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.3, p=0.003). For sleep and appetite changes, the odds ratio was 3.3 (95% CI 1.9-5.9, p<0.001). ## What it means for you Women with PMDD likely have an underlying depression tendency that becomes worse during the luteal phase due to hormonal changes, rather than having depression appear only premenstrually. This finding could guide prevention and treatment. Main limitations include no hormone measurements and a non-longitudinal design. 1.9 odds ratio for depression and PMDD 3.3 odds ratio for sleep/appetite symptoms 43 women with PMDD ## About the study Original title Symptoms of depression in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: a variant of mood disorder? Authors De Ronchi D, Ujkaj M, Boaron F et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2005 Study design Cohort study Participants 85 What was tested Prospective daily symptom recording for at least 2 cycles and structured psychiatric interviews Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2005.01.013](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2005.01.013) ## 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/)[Borderline personality disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bpd/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2000 Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Study, 2026 What treatments work for PMDD? Study, 2025 What brain changes do women with PMS and PMDD have? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗