A new study on women's health has found a strong two-way link between severe premenstrual syndrome and several mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Researchers analyzed health records of more than 3.6 million women in Sweden and found that women diagnosed with severe forms of PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) were about twice as likely to later develop a psychiatric disorder.
On the other hand, women who had previously had mental health problems were also more likely to be diagnosed with premenstrual disorders. According to the authors, this suggests a bidirectional relationship between these conditions, rather than a single-directional cause-and-effect relationship.
The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, were based on national health registries and followed participants for an average period of more than eight years.
PMDD is considered a severe form of premenstrual syndrome and can cause severe mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts in the weeks before menstruation. Unlike regular PMS, PMDD is recognized as a psychiatric disorder and was officially included in the World Health Organization's diagnostic system in 2019.
The study found that, of more than 100 women diagnosed with premenstrual disorder, nearly half had a previous psychiatric diagnosis. Among women without premenstrual disorder, that figure was just under 30 percent.
The strongest associations were seen with depression and anxiety, but the researchers also identified higher risks for ADHD, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. In some analyses, women with PMS were more than three times more likely to be later diagnosed with ADHD or bipolar disorder.
Meanwhile, no clear link with schizophrenia was found in either direction.
To assess the influence of genetic and environmental factors, the researchers also conducted comparisons between siblings. Although the associations were slightly weaker, they remained significant, suggesting that the relationship between these conditions is not fully explained by heredity or family circumstances alone.
The authors speculate that the results may be related to common biological or genetic mechanisms, including increased sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations and shared pathways in the brain involving serotonin, dopamine, and stress regulation systems.
However, the researchers emphasize that this is an observational study and does not prove direct causation. It shows a strong link between premenstrual disorders and mental health, but not that one condition necessarily causes the other.
Experts say these findings highlight the need for greater awareness by doctors and for more careful inclusion of the menstrual cycle in mental health assessments in women. /GazetaExpress/
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