Survey study, 1992
Can daily symptom tracking reliably diagnose PMS?
No. Five different rating methods that doctors have used to diagnose PMS from daily symptom tracking could not reliably separate women with diagnosed PMS from women without symptoms.
What they did
Cross-sectional comparison study examining five different scoring methods that previous research had used to identify PMS from daily symptom ratings. Researchers tested these methods on 31 women who met diagnostic criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder and 34 women with no premenstrual symptoms. They also looked at stress levels and whether women felt impaired in their daily lives.
What they found
None of the five change criteria reliably separated women with diagnosed PMS from normally cycling women without symptoms, whether using strict or loose standards. Only one criterion separated the PMS group from women on oral contraceptives. Both groups experienced similar numbers of stressful events, but women with PMS rated their problems as more disturbing. Women with PMS also showed a cyclical pattern of negative work interactions suggesting some impaired functioning.
What it means for you
Daily ratings may not reliably diagnose PMS, though women with it do rate problems as more serious and experience real work difficulties. Better diagnostic methods are needed. Main limits: small sample, single time point, limited rating method details.
31
Women with LLPDD/PMS
34
Women with no symptoms
5
Rating criteria tested
About the study
- Original title
- Using daily ratings to confirm premenstrual syndrome/late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. Part II. What makes a "real" difference?
- Authors
- Gallant SJ, Popiel DA, Hoffman DM et al.
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 34
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199203000-00004
Topics
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