Nine women with PMS or premenstrual dysphoric syndrome (PMDD) participated in the study, while 12 healthy women were collected as a control group. The study patients, who were between 18 and 40 years of age, underwent polysomnographic sleep studies during two phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular and luteal phases.

According to the results, women with severe PMS reported significantly poorer sleep quality during the late luteal phase; however, no signs of sleep disturbances associated with PMS symptoms were found in the polysomnographic studies. Both study groups reported increased insomnia and increased sigma power activity during the late luteal phase compared to the follicular phase.

However, differences were observed between the groups in the electroencephalogram recordings, not depending on the phase of the cycle. These included a decrease in delta (wave) activity and an increase in theta waves in women with PMS indicating that there may be characteristic markers in the electroencephalogram of women with PMS.

In the study described here, sleep quality and sleep components were analysed using conventional and quantitative electroencephalographic analysis in women with severe PMS, and the results were compared with a control group.