---
title: Can daily symptom tracking help doctors diagnose different types of PMS?
description: Yes. Daily symptom tracking separated women into three groups: those with symptoms only before their period (30%), those with ongoing symptoms that worsen bef
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/diagnosis-of-premenstrual-tension-syndrome-description-and-evaluation-of-a-1989/
---

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- Can daily symptom tracking help doctors diagnose different types of PMS?

Survey study, 1989

# Can daily symptom tracking help doctors diagnose different types of PMS?

Yes. Daily symptom tracking separated women into three groups: those with symptoms only before their period (30%), those with ongoing symptoms that worsen before the period (56%), and those with no menstrual pattern (14%). This helps doctors understand each woman's specific pattern.

 Moderate study design

80 women seeking help for PMS

## What they did

This was a cross-sectional study of 82 women seeking PMS help; 80 had usable data. They kept daily symptom records for two menstrual cycles. Blood samples were taken weekly to measure estradiol and progesterone levels. All women completed a personality questionnaire and reported any previous psychiatric illness.

## What they found

Daily symptom records divided women into three groups. Group 1 (pure PMS, 30%) had symptoms only during the premenstrual phase. Group 2 (56%) had negative symptoms throughout the cycle with worsening before the period. Group 3 (14%) showed no relationship between symptoms and the menstrual cycle. Group 1 had significantly lower neuroticism scores and fewer women with previous psychiatric illness than Groups 2 and 3.

## What it means for you

Not all women with PMS have the same pattern. Some have symptoms only before their period, while others have underlying depression or anxiety that worsens at that time. The study only included women seeking clinical help, so results may not apply to all women with PMS.

30%

Women with symptoms only in premenstrual phase (pure PMS)

56%

Women with ongoing symptoms worsening before period

14%

Women with no menstrual pattern to symptoms

## About the study

Original title Diagnosis of premenstrual tension syndrome: description and evaluation of a procedure for diagnosis and differential diagnosis Authors Stefan Hammarbäck, Torbjörn Carl Bäckström, B. Macgibbon-Taylor Journal Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology Year 1989 Study design Survey study Participants 80 What was tested Daily symptom tracking method tested Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674828909016676](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674828909016676)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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## Related studies

Review, 2024

What is premenstrual exacerbation and how does it affect different psychiatric illnesses?

Systematic review, 2022

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Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

Survey study, 2022

How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age?

Cohort study, 2013

Do depression, irritability, and anxiety get worse before the period in women with PMDD?

Study, 2012

Does anxiety sensitivity affect panic symptoms differently at different menstrual cycle phases?

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