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.
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
Topics
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