Non-randomised trial, 1999
Can changing how women think about their cycle reduce PMS symptoms?
Women who attended support groups with positive messages about the menstrual cycle reported fewer negative symptoms than a comparison group. This wasn't a randomized trial, so we cannot be certain the reframing itself caused the improvement.
What they did
Quasi-experimental study of 28 women with PMS. The experimental group attended health promotion sessions in a university classroom providing peer support and teaching positive reframing of the menstrual cycle. A comparison group did not attend. Symptoms and personal resources were measured.
What they found
Women in the experimental group reported decreased negative symptoms about their cycle and significantly increased personal resources. The paper does not provide specific percentages or effect sizes for these changes.
What it means for you
Peer support and positive thinking about the menstrual cycle may help reduce symptom reports in women with PMS. The main limitation is lack of randomization. The improvement could be due to attention, support, or placebo rather than the reframing specifically.
28
women with PMS studied
About the study
- Original title
- Positively reframing perceptions of the menstrual cycle among women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Morse G
- Journal
- Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 28
- What was tested
- Health promotion program with peer support and positive reframing psychotherapy
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1999.tb01981.x
Topics
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