Cohort study, 1989
What psychological factors are connected to confirmed premenstrual dysphoria?
Women who tracked their mood every day and reported PMS symptoms had significantly higher anxiety, depression, and negative self-talk than others. But women who only remembered having PMS after the fact did NOT differ from controls, showing memory is unreliable.
What they did
Compared women reporting premenstrual dysphoria based on daily mood tracking (prospective reports) versus those reporting it from memory (retrospective reports) and controls. Measured anxiety, depression, and negative self-statements using standard questionnaires.
What they found
Women with prospective daily-tracked reports of premenstrual dysphoria significantly differed from controls on anxiety, depression, and negative self-statements. Women with only retrospective recalled reports did NOT significantly differ from controls on any of these measures.
What it means for you
Memory of PMS symptoms is unreliable. Women who remember having PMS after the fact overestimate compared to daily tracking. Anxiety and depression correlate with confirmed PMS, but whether they cause or result from it is unclear. Sample sizes and statistical values are not provided in the abstract.
About the study
- Original title
- Correlates of confirmed premenstrual dysphoria
- Authors
- Christensen AP, Oei TP
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None - observational comparison
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(89)90021-4
Topics
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