Cohort study, 1992
Do standard depression tests detect mood changes linked to PMS?
The Beck Depression Inventory detected mood changes in women with PMS, while another test did not. This suggests PMS depression is mainly about negative thinking rather than physical symptoms.
What they did
14 women with PMS and 10 without completed two depression tests during two different phases (early in the cycle and just before their period) across two consecutive cycles.
What they found
The Beck Depression Inventory detected mood changes in PMS women. During the late luteal phase, PMS women reported pessimism, sense of failure, dissatisfaction, guilt, self-dislike, and indecision. The Zung scale did not detect these changes.
What it means for you
Premenstrual mood problems in PMS involve negative thoughts rather than just physical symptoms. However, this was a small study. The Beck test appears more useful for measuring PMS mood changes.
14
women with PMS
10
control women
2
consecutive menstrual cycles tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Psychological aspects of premenstrual syndrome. II: Utility of standardized measures
- Authors
- Keenan PA, Lindamer LA, Jong SK
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None - this study measured depression, not tested a treatment
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(92)90057-e
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2020
What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life?
Review, 2015
What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?
Review, 2013
What treatments work best for PMDD?
Survey study, 2026
Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different?
Randomised trial, 2025
Does escitalopram improve attention and reduce impulsivity in women with premenstrual irritability and anger?
Case-control study, 2023
Do emotion regulation strategies help women with PMDD manage mood and stress hormones?