--- title: Do women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually to cope with mood symptoms? description: Yes, women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually and menstrually, driven by depressed mood and a desire to cope with negative feelings. Women with PMDD u url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-impact-of-depressed-mood-and-coping-motives-on-cannabis-use-quantity-across-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually to cope with mood symptoms? Survey study, 2021 # Do women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually to cope with mood symptoms? Yes, women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually and menstrually, driven by depressed mood and a desire to cope with negative feelings. Women with PMDD used significantly more cannabis overall than those without PMDD. Early or limited evidence 69 female cannabis users in Nova Scotia, Canada (average age 29.25 years), with and without PMDD ## What they did Observational study in Canada where 69 female cannabis users tracked their mood, cannabis use motives, and cannabis quantity daily for 32 days. Researchers confirmed menstrual cycle phase using salivary progesterone and identified PMDD both from interview history and from prospective mood tracking. ## What they found Coping motives explained higher cannabis use premenstrually and menstrually in those with PMDD. Depressed mood explained increased cannabis use menstrually in those with PMDD. Women with PMDD used more cannabis overall (3.44 standard joint equivalents compared to 1.85 without PMDD). Among women with prospectively identified PMDD, positive mood and enhancement motives were linked to lower cannabis use during the follicular and ovulatory phases. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD may be at risk of using cannabis to manage premenstrual depression and mood symptoms rather than seeking other treatments. This study tracked real behavior but was observational (not randomized), involved only Canadian cannabis users, and cannot prove cannabis use is caused by PMDD symptoms. 69 Female cannabis users 3.44 vs 1.85 Joint equivalents with vs without PMDD 29.25 +/- 5.66 Mean age in years ## About the study Original title The impact of depressed mood and coping motives on cannabis use quantity across the menstrual cycle in those with and without pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Joyce KM, Thompson K, Good KP et al. Journal Addiction (Abingdon, England) Year 2021 Study design Survey study What was tested None; researchers observed existing patterns of cannabis use and mood Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/add.15465](https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15465) ## 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/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/) 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, 2001 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder and how is it related to other psychiatric conditions? Survey study, 1994 Do women with PMDD use more cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs at certain times in their cycle? Survey study, 1989 Do women's memories of premenstrual depression match their daily mood ratings? Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗