---
title: How can menstrual-related irritability be measured reliably? | Niyora
description: Researchers developed two rating scales for measuring menstrual-related irritability. Both the 14-item self-report and 5-item observer scales showed strong re
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-new-female-specific-irritability-rating-scale-2008/
---

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- How can menstrual-related irritability be measured reliably?

Cohort study, 2008

# How can menstrual-related irritability be measured reliably?

Researchers developed two rating scales for measuring menstrual-related irritability. Both the 14-item self-report and 5-item observer scales showed strong reliability and consistency.

 Early or limited evidence

36 women with mood disturbances related to menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause

## What they did

Researchers constructed self-rating and observer rating scales based on women's descriptions of irritability related to menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. Items included annoyance, anger, tension, hostility, and sensitivity to noise and touch. They tested a 14-item self-report scale and 5-item observer scale for reliability in 36 women with mood disturbances.

## What they found

The self-report scale had Cronbach's alpha=0.9257 with test-retest reliability of r=0.704 (n=29, p=0.01). The observer scale had Cronbach's alpha=0.7418 with perfect interrater reliability (tau=1.000, n=20, p=0.001).

## What it means for you

The study created reliable tools for measuring menstrual-related irritability to help doctors evaluate this symptom more precisely. However, this is a tool development study with a small sample, not a treatment study, so it does not test whether treatments for irritability work.

36

women

0.9257

Cronbach's alpha for self-report scale

0.704

test-retest reliability

## About the study

Original title A new, female-specific irritability rating scale Authors Born L, Koren G, Lin E et al. Journal Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN Year 2008 Study design Cohort study Participants 36 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1139/jpn.0832](https://doi.org/10.1139/jpn.0832)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

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