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Survey study, 1991

Is a 10-item symptom checklist as good as a 95-item one for measuring PMS?

Yes, a 10-item checklist had high internal consistency and reliability. It measures three main symptom areas: mood, water retention, and pain.

Early or limited evidence Women visiting clinic for PMS assessment (sample size and location not specified)

What they did

Researchers shortened a 95-item PMS symptom form to 10 items based on symptoms most often reported before menstruation. They tested it at baseline and at 6 and 12 month follow-up clinic visits.

What they found

The 10-item version had high internal consistency and reliability. It identified three symptom subscales: affect (mood), water retention, and pain. The intercorrelation between subscales and total score over time was strong.

What it means for you

A shorter checklist works well for assessing PMS in clinical practice. This tells us how to measure symptoms accurately, not which treatments work. The study population is not described in the abstract.

10 items

shortened form length

95 items

original form length

3

symptom subscales identified

About the study

Original title
The shortened premenstrual assessment form
Authors
Allen SS, McBride CM, Pirie PL
Journal
The Journal of reproductive medicine
Year
1991
Study design
Survey study
What was tested
A shortened symptom assessment form

Topics