Randomised trial, 1992
Are PMS and PMDD symptoms real, or are they just from expecting to have them?
Symptoms appear real. Women with confirmed PMDD reported consistent symptoms across cycle phases regardless of knowing the study focused on menstruation. Expectations had only a small effect on symptom reporting.
What they did
Daily symptom ratings were collected from 31 women with PMDD (late luteal phase dysphoric disorder) and 34 asymptomatic women. Participants were randomly assigned to either know or not know that the study examined menstrual cycles.
What they found
Women with PMDD showed consistent patterns of higher symptom ratings during mid-luteal, premenstrual, and menstrual phases, regardless of knowing the study focus. Asymptomatic women who knew the study focus showed slightly higher cyclicity in their ratings compared to those unaware, but these differences were small and mostly not statistically significant.
What it means for you
Real PMS and PMDD symptoms appear to be genuine and not primarily driven by expectation or knowing about the menstrual cycle connection. This supports that the condition is a true physiological phenomenon, not just psychological. Expectation can have a small effect on symptom reporting in people without the condition.
31
women with PMDD
34
asymptomatic women
About the study
- Original title
- Using daily ratings to confirm premenstrual syndrome/late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. Part I. Effects of demand characteristics and expectations
- Authors
- Gallant SJ, Popiel DA, Hoffman DM et al.
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 34
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199203000-00003
Topics
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