Links Menstrual Cycle to Increased Suicide Risk in Women
With 2022 recording the highest suicide rates ever, researchers are urgently studying new risk factors. A groundbreaking study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry reveals that women experience worsening suicidal thoughts just before their menstrual period.
The new study followed women daily through their menstrual cycles, confirming that suicidal thoughts intensify during the luteal phase (the week or two before menstruation). Researchers found that specific symptoms like hopelessness, rejection, sensitivity, and feeling burdensome predicted suicidal planning.
“Nonetheless, these studies have reported that approximately 60% of women with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder report menstrual cycle-related mood changes, and that in women with schizophrenia, premenstrual exacerbation of psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations, have been reported.”
