Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41668407›Full record

ArticleClinical psychology & psychotherapy

Menstrual Cycle Dynamics and Their Impact on Psychotherapy: Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study.

Marie Anderlik, Jasmina Eifert, Manuela Gander, Anna Buchheim, Alexander Karabatsiakis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Marie AnderlikClinical Psychology II, Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.
Jasmina EifertClinical Psychology II, Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.
Manuela GanderClinical Psychology II, Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9669-5561
Anna BuchheimClinical Psychology II, Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.
Alexander KarabatsiakisClinical Psychology II, Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5822-0108

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite substantial research on the physiological and psychological effects of the menstrual cycle (MC) on somatic and mental health, its impact on psychotherapy remains largely overlooked. Importantly, MC follows a recurring pattern of inflammatory activity. Emotional states, mood, cognitive functioning and sleep patterns fluctuate across the MC, affecting overall functioning and well-being. Additionally, hormonal shifts across the cycle are linked to the exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, particularly in premenopausal women who exhibit heightened sensitivity to normal changes in sex steroid levels. However, MC-related hormonal fluctuations and inflammatory processes are rarely considered in psychotherapeutic settings. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined how MC-related fluctuations influence clients' psychotherapy experiences. In an online survey setting, a total of N = 425 female clients completed the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) and the WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5), alongside qualitative questions on symptom and therapy experiences. Most participants received cognitive-behavioural (35.5%), psychodynamic (14.4%), systemic (9.4%) or humanistic (6.8%) therapy, while 33.9% were unsure of their therapy orientation, mostly in outpatient settings. Quantitative findings revealed reduced therapy satisfaction during premenstrual and perimenstrual phases compared with other phases. Qualitative data highlighted symptom exacerbation during these phases, negatively affecting emotional states, therapeutic participation, cognitive functioning and perceptions of therapy's necessity and effectiveness. Participants reported that the open discussion of the MC in therapy improved treatment outcomes. They advocated for individualized consideration of MC-related factors in therapy planning. These findings underscore the need for more personalized clinical approaches that integrate MC-related dynamics into psychotherapy to optimize treatment outcomes.

Indexed as

Menstrual CycleMental DisordersPatient SatisfactionPsychotherapyAdultFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPsychological Well-BeingSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultmenstrual cyclepersonalized medicinepsychotherapysymptom exacerbationstreatment outcome

Identifiers

PMID41668407
PMCPMC12891931

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.