While about 5% of women have premenstrual dysphoric disorder, we more commonly see women who experience premenstrual exacerbation of mood and anxiety disorders. A small study of 15 women with borderline personality disorder (who were not taking psychotropic medications or hormonal contraceptives) suggests that most symptoms attributable to borderline personality disorder significantly worsened in the week before and during the first week of menstruation. (This is somewhat delayed from what is typically observed in patient with PMDD who typically experience resolution of symptoms with the onset of menses.)
Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD
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Menstruation may worsen symptoms in borderline personality disorder (Psychiatric Annals)
Eisenlohr-Moul TA, et al.Perimenstrual exacerbation of symptoms in borderline personality disorder: evidence from multilevel models and the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System. Psychol Med, May 2019.
I was diagnosed with pmdd around the time they mistakenly diagnosed me bipolar which was about 15 years ago. I actually have borderline personality disorder, diagnosed 6 years ago. And of my 6 suicide attempts, 4 of them I either started my period the following day at the hospital or had started the day of the overdose. I really wish they could have figured out that coralation a long time ago.
Hello Jill,
I just read your comment… I feel so miserable, it’s like living hell, I don’t know what to do.. have you found any answers to your problem? Anything that helps make you feel better? My email is monika_duskova@yahoo.com
(Nobody in my family suffers of this so they really don’t understand. They want to help but by telling “try hard and you will be better, it is your choice to be well or misarable… that is really not helping, on contrary. I am hurting, not knowing what to do, thinking that if I wasn’t it would be better and they tell me that it is my choice to be this way??? Please help somebody)