---
title: Does a one-question mood scale work as well as a detailed symptom checklist?
description: A simple 0-10 mood rating scale tracked symptom changes just as well as a 17-item detailed symptom checklist during oral contraceptive cycles, with strong cor
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparison-of-scales-for-evaluating-premenstrual-symptoms-in-women-using-oral-2008/
---

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- Does a one-question mood scale work as well as a detailed symptom checklist?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

# Does a one-question mood scale work as well as a detailed symptom checklist?

A simple 0-10 mood rating scale tracked symptom changes just as well as a 17-item detailed symptom checklist during oral contraceptive cycles, with strong correlation between the two methods.

 Moderate study design

102 women aged 18-48 on monophasic oral contraceptives with premenstrual symptoms of headache, mood changes, or pelvic pain.

## What they did

102 women taking oral contraceptives (21 days with hormones, 7 days without) completed two different symptom tracking methods: a simple Scott and White daily diary rating mood 0-10, and a longer Penn State form with 17 items rating mood, physical, and behavioral symptoms.

## What they found

The simple single mood score correlated strongly with the complex 17-item checklist. Both scales showed the same pattern: symptoms increased just before and peaked during the 7-day hormone-free week.

## What it means for you

For research and clinical tracking, a simple one-question mood rating is as reliable as a much longer form, making symptom tracking easier for women. The study was relatively small and studied only women on one type of monophasic oral contraceptive, so results may not apply to all women or all contraceptive types.

102

Women studied

21-7

Hormone and hormone-free days per cycle

0.44

Correlation between scales

## About the study

Original title Comparison of scales for evaluating premenstrual symptoms in women using oral contraceptives Authors Coffee AL, Kuehl TJ, Sulak PJ Journal Pharmacotherapy Year 2008 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Two symptom tracking scales Read the paper [doi.org/10.1592/phco.28.5.576](https://doi.org/10.1592/phco.28.5.576)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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