Johns Hopkins Study Finds Cannabis Commonly Used to Manage Premenstrual Mood Symptoms, Especially Among Those With PMDD
- Cannabis was the most commonly reported substance for managing premenstrual mood symptoms, with over half of those diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) using it.
- The Johns Hopkins University study surveyed 703 individuals, including 167 diagnosed with PMDD, finding 30% used cannabis for premenstrual mood symptoms, followed by alcohol (16.1%) and psychedelics (5.9%).
- Participants with more severe symptoms, especially during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, reported higher cannabis and nicotine use, indicating symptom-timed adjustments in substance use.
- The study highlighted the need for clinical research on the effectiveness and risks of cannabis and other substances for premenstrual and perimenopausal symptom management, as current data is based on self-reported use.
Cannabis was the most commonly reported substance used to manage premenstrual mood symptoms in a Johns Hopkins University study, with more than half of participants diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder reporting its use.
The study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Women’s Health, was conducted by researchers with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It examined the use of cannabis, psychedelics and several other substances to manage premenstrual and perimenopausal symptoms.
A total of 703 people responded to an online survey, including 634 who reported having a menstrual cycle within the previous year. Of those, 167 had been diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by a health care provider using daily symptom tracking over two menstrual cycles.
Among all participants, 30% reported using cannabis to manage premenstrual mood symptoms, making it the most commonly reported substance. Alcohol ranked second at 16.1%, followed by psychedelics at 5.9%.
Cannabis use was substantially more common among those with PMDD, with 51.5% reporting using it to manage premenstrual mood symptoms. Psychedelic use was also higher in the PMDD group, at 16.2%.
Researchers assessed symptom severity using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool and found that greater symptom severity was associated with more frequent cannabis and nicotine use during the luteal phase, the portion of the menstrual cycle preceding menstruation.
Cannabis was also used significantly more frequently during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase, suggesting participants were adjusting their use in response to the timing of symptoms.
Among participants who reported experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, cannabis was again the substance most frequently used to manage those symptoms.
The researchers emphasized that the survey measured self-reported use rather than whether cannabis was effective at treating the symptoms.
They said the results highlight the need for clinical research examining the potential effectiveness and risks of cannabis and other substances for premenstrual and perimenopausal symptoms, particularly among people with PMDD.