---
title: Do women with PMDD have working memory problems linked to concentration and irritability?
description: Yes. Women with PMDD perform worse on working memory tasks during the luteal phase, and this decline is linked to difficulty concentrating, irritability, and
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/working-memory-deficit-in-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-its-associations-2012/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have working memory problems linked to concentration and irritability?

Case-control study, 2012

# Do women with PMDD have working memory problems linked to concentration and irritability?

Yes. Women with PMDD perform worse on working memory tasks during the luteal phase, and this decline is linked to difficulty concentrating, irritability, and reduced daily functioning.

 Moderate study design

60 women with PMDD and 60 healthy controls

## What they did

Case-control study of 60 women with PMDD and 60 healthy controls. Participants performed working memory tasks (N2 and N3 back tasks) during both luteal and follicular phases and reported symptom severity.

## What they found

The PMDD group performed significantly worse on N2 and N3 back tasks during the luteal phase but not the follicular phase. Performance on these tasks was significantly associated with irritability, symptom severity, and functional impairment in the PMDD group.

## What it means for you

Working memory problems during the luteal phase may explain why women with PMDD report concentration difficulties, which contributes to reduced daily functioning. Interventions to support memory and concentration could help manage symptoms.

60

women with PMDD

60

healthy controls

## About the study

Original title Working memory deficit in premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its associations with difficulty in concentrating and irritability Authors Yen JY, Chang SJ, Long CY et al. Journal Comprehensive psychiatry Year 2012 Study design Case-control study Participants 60 What was tested Working memory tasks Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.05.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.05.016)

## 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/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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