Case-control study, 2002
Do difficult childhood experiences with parents cause PMDD?
No. Women with PMDD reported no worse childhood parenting experiences than women without PMDD, suggesting PMDD comes from biology rather than childhood experiences.
What they did
Case-control study comparing childhood parenting memories in 34 women with PMDD and 22 women without PMDD. All were from South London and free from other psychiatric disorders. They used a standard questionnaire called the Parental Bonding Instrument.
What they found
Women with PMDD and controls had similar scores on parental warmth and parental overcontrol. PMDD was not associated with memories of lack of warmth or overcontrol in childhood.
What it means for you
Poor childhood parenting is not a major risk factor for PMDD, unlike it is for depression. PMDD appears to be more biologically determined. This is one small study from one city, so the findings need confirmation.
34
women with PMDD
22
control women
About the study
- Original title
- Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder do not recall aberrant parenting
- Authors
- Critchlow DG, Bond AJ, Wingrove J
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None; genetic comparison study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674820209074666
Topics
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