--- title: How common is severe PMS or PMDD in teenage girls, and what does it look like? description: Almost 3 in 10 girls screened positive for severe PMS or PMDD, with irritability being the most common symptom, and the pattern looked similar to what is seen url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-premenstrual-symptoms-screening-tool-revised-for-adolescents-psst-a-2011/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is severe PMS or PMDD in teenage girls, and what does it look like? Survey study, 2011 # How common is severe PMS or PMDD in teenage girls, and what does it look like? Almost 3 in 10 girls screened positive for severe PMS or PMDD, with irritability being the most common symptom, and the pattern looked similar to what is seen in adult women. Early or limited evidence 578 adolescent girls at three international sites ## What they did Researchers adapted an existing screening questionnaire for teenagers (the PSST-A) and tested it in 578 girls across three international sites, in a cross-sectional survey. ## What they found 29.6% of girls reported severe PMS or PMDD. Irritability was the most commonly reported symptom. Menstrual-related pain was common overall, and especially high in girls with severe PMS or PMDD. The authors conclude that severe PMS and PMDD look similar in rates and symptoms in teens as in adults. ## What it means for you This suggests severe PMS and PMDD are not rare in teenagers and can be screened for with a quick, reliable tool. The main limit is that this is a one-time screening survey, not a clinical diagnosis, so it shows likely rates rather than confirmed cases. 578 Girls screened 29.6% Severe PMS or PMDD ## About the study Original title The Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool revised for adolescents (PSST-A): prevalence of severe PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in adolescents Authors Steiner M, Peer M, Palova E et al. Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2011 Study design Survey study Participants 578 What was tested Use of the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool adapted for adolescents (PSST-A), a screening questionnaire rather than a treatment Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0202-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0202-2) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2022 Does body size during childhood affect the risk of premenstrual disorders later? Cohort study, 2021 Does when you start puberty affect your risk of premenstrual disorders as an adult? Systematic review, 2021 How common is PMDD among female students in Ethiopia? Lab study, 2026 Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD? Survey study, 2026 How common are PMS and PMDD in teenagers, and can a new questionnaire measure their impact? Survey study, 2026 How common are severe PMS and PMDD in young women, and what are the risk factors? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗