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Randomised trial, 2016

Does cognitive-behavioral therapy improve quality of life in women with premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly improved quality of life in women with PMS, and the benefits lasted for 2 months after treatment ended.

Moderate study design 40 female university students with PMS in Tehran, Iran

What they did

Forty female university students with PMS were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group received 10 sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy. The control group received no treatment. Quality of life was measured before and after treatment.

What they found

Cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly improved quality of life compared to control (P < 0.001). The improvements were maintained at a 2-month follow-up visit after treatment ended.

What it means for you

Cognitive-behavioral therapy appears to improve how women with PMS feel and function in daily life, with benefits lasting beyond treatment. The study was small with only 40 university students in Tehran, Iran, so we do not know if results apply to older women or those with severe PMDD.

40

female university students

10

cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions

2

months that benefits lasted after treatment

About the study

Original title
Effect of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Females With Premenstrual Syndrome
Authors
Izadi-Mazidi M, Davoudi I, Mehrabizadeh M
Journal
Iranian journal of psychiatry and behavioral sciences
Year
2016
Study design
Randomised trial
Participants
40
What was tested
10 sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy
Open access
Yes

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