---
title: Do psychotherapists correctly diagnose premenstrual syndrome?
description: Most psychotherapists can correctly distinguish PMS from other conditions when symptoms are described as cyclical. However, some therapists still misdiagnose
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychotherapist-diagnosis-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1988/
---

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- Do psychotherapists correctly diagnose premenstrual syndrome?

Study, 1988

# Do psychotherapists correctly diagnose premenstrual syndrome?

Most psychotherapists can correctly distinguish PMS from other conditions when symptoms are described as cyclical. However, some therapists still misdiagnose PMS cases.

 Moderate study design

Psychotherapists (specific number not stated in abstract)

## What they did

Researchers created two identical case vignettes, differing only in whether symptoms were described as cyclical or not. They asked psychotherapists to diagnose the case, identify which clinical feature guided their diagnosis, and suggest a treatment.

## What they found

Most therapists could distinguish the PMS case from the non-PMS case based on the cyclical nature of symptoms. However, the abstract notes that the number of therapists who misdiagnosed the case is a concern.

## What it means for you

Psychotherapists generally recognize that cyclical symptoms are key to identifying PMS, but some still get it wrong. The study used written case descriptions rather than real patients, which may not reflect real-world diagnosis.

1988

Year of publication

## About the study

Original title Psychotherapist Diagnosis of Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Donald R. Atkinson, LINDA PEPPER KOZITZA Journal Journal of Counseling & Development Year 1988 Study design Study What was tested Case vignettes describing cyclical versus noncyclical symptoms Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1988.tb00905.x](https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1988.tb00905.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)

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