Non-randomised trial, 2003
How many women with PMS want to participate in research studies?
Very few. Only 10% of women with current PMS symptoms agreed to participate, and only 22% of those who started confirmed their diagnosis by keeping daily symptom charts.
What they did
Open trial in 6 primary care gynecology offices. Researchers screened 904 women for PMS symptoms, tracked who participated and why, and looked for coexisting mental health conditions.
What they found
47% of screened women (n=426) had current PMS symptoms. Of these, 41% were not interested in research, 36% were ineligible (symptoms not severe enough or other reasons), 10% agreed to keep daily symptom charts, and only 9 women (22% of those who charted) confirmed their symptoms. Among the 426 with PMS: 22% had depression, 5.4% had minor depression, and 14% had panic disorder. Among women with possible PMDD, 24% had suicidal thoughts and 20% had these thoughts for several days.
What it means for you
Many women in primary care have PMS and other mental health conditions together. Most don't want to participate in research. This means research trial results may not apply to typical patients. This was an open trial with no control group, so we cannot measure treatment effectiveness.
47%
Women with PMS symptoms among those screened
10%
Percentage who agreed to participate
22%
Percentage of participants who confirmed PMS diagnosis
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual disorders: bridging research and clinical reality
- Authors
- Yonkers KA, Pearlstein T, Rosenheck RA
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 426
- What was tested
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-003-0026-4
Topics
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