Survey study, 1995
Do women with premenstrual symptoms have ongoing psychological problems?
In the time between periods, women with premenstrual symptoms were psychologically similar to women without symptoms. When recalling periods that included the premenstrual phase, they reported worse mood than they actually experienced.
What they did
Cross-sectional study comparing 4 groups: 35 women with premenstrual symptoms and no psychiatric history, 35 without symptoms, 35 with psychiatric disorders, and 35 community women. Women in the first three groups were tested in the intermenstrual phase (after their period but before day 12 of their cycle) using psychological questionnaires.
What they found
During the intermenstrual phase, women with premenstrual symptoms were indistinguishable from women without symptoms and community women, but different from those with psychiatric disorders. When reporting about time periods including the premenstrual phase, they reported worse mood. Women with premenstrual symptoms also reported higher levels of past external stresses.
What it means for you
Women with premenstrual symptoms don't have ongoing mood problems between their periods, but remember their premenstrual phase as worse. Small sample of 35 women per group limits confidence in results.
35
women in each group
4
comparison groups
About the study
- Original title
- Intermenstrual affect in women with symptomatic premenstrual change
- Authors
- Cumming CE, Fox EE, Cumming DC
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic research
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 35
- What was tested
- Psychological testing and mood questionnaires
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(94)00139-v
Topics
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