--- title: What is premenstrual exacerbation and how does it affect different psychiatric illnesses? description: Premenstrual exacerbation is when psychiatric symptoms worsen during the premenstrual phase. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle create a vulnerable p url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/understanding-premenstrual-exacerbation-navigating-the-intersection-of-the-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What is premenstrual exacerbation and how does it affect different psychiatric illnesses? Review, 2024 # What is premenstrual exacerbation and how does it affect different psychiatric illnesses? Premenstrual exacerbation is when psychiatric symptoms worsen during the premenstrual phase. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle create a vulnerable period for many psychiatric conditions, but premenstrual exacerbation remains poorly defined. Strong study design Women with various psychiatric illnesses ## What they did Literature review examining how premenstrual exacerbation affects different types of psychiatric illnesses, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, obsessive-compulsive, personality, and trauma-related disorders. ## What they found Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle create a period of vulnerability for psychiatric symptoms to worsen. The review found premenstrual exacerbation remains underexplored and poorly defined across psychiatric conditions. ## What it means for you Many women with psychiatric illnesses may have worsening symptoms before their period that doctors and patients don't recognize. Better diagnosis and treatment approaches are needed. The main limitation is that premenstrual exacerbation is still poorly understood. ## About the study Original title Understanding premenstrual exacerbation: navigating the intersection of the menstrual cycle and psychiatric illnesses Authors Lin J, Nunez C, Susser L et al. Journal Frontiers in psychiatry Year 2024 Study design Review What was tested None; literature review Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1410813](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1410813) Original abstract Premenstrual exacerbation of an existing psychiatric disorder refers to the worsening of symptoms inherent to the condition during the premenstrual phase. Research consistently indicates that hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle present a unique period of vulnerability for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, impacting diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment. This review sought to elucidate the phenomenon of premenstrual exacerbation and its impact across a spectrum of psychiatric illnesses, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, obsessive-compulsive, personality, and trauma-related disorders. Despite the expanded research in recent years on premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual exacerbation remains underexplored and poorly defined. This review offers significant contributions to the diagnosis and management of psychiatric conditions, advocating for heightened awareness and novel treatment approaches in the context of premenstrual exacerbation. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Borderline personality disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bpd/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/) 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 Systematic review, 2022 Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Review, 2002 What are the reproductive-related mood disorders and how are they connected? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Guideline, 2006 What is the best treatment for PMDD and severe PMS? Review, 2000 What conditions beyond depression can antidepressants treat? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗