---
title: Can the Premenstrual Assessment Form questionnaire diagnose PMDD?
description: The questionnaire correctly identified most women with PMDD symptoms compared to healthy women, but it cannot confirm a definite PMDD diagnosis alone. Daily s
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/clinical-utility-of-the-premenstrual-assessment-form-as-an-instrument-auxiliary-2000/
---

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- Can the Premenstrual Assessment Form questionnaire diagnose PMDD?

Survey study, 2000

# Can the Premenstrual Assessment Form questionnaire diagnose PMDD?

The questionnaire correctly identified most women with PMDD symptoms compared to healthy women, but it cannot confirm a definite PMDD diagnosis alone. Daily symptom tracking is needed.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women seeking PMDD treatment, 16 healthy control women

## What they did

Compared a questionnaire in 30 women seeking treatment for PMDD symptoms and 16 healthy control women. 16 symptomatic women also completed daily ratings over two menstrual cycles.

## What they found

97% of women with PMDD symptoms met questionnaire depressive criteria vs 12% of controls (chi-square 29.9, p<0.001). Symptomatic women reported more severe symptoms on all scales. Of the 16 who did daily tracking, only half had PMDD diagnosis confirmed. The questionnaire had high sensitivity but low specificity.

## What it means for you

The questionnaire can screen for PMDD but should not be used alone for diagnosis. Daily symptom tracking over cycles is needed to confirm the condition. The study was small with limited follow-up, which limits confidence in the findings.

97%

Symptomatic women meeting questionnaire criteria

12%

Control women meeting criteria

p<0.001

Statistical significance

## About the study

Original title Clinical utility of the premenstrual assessment form as an instrument auxiliary to the diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Nogueira Pires ML, Calil HM Journal Psychiatry research Year 2000 Study design Survey study Participants 30 What was tested Premenstrual Assessment Form questionnaire Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(00)00151-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(00)00151-7)

## 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/)

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## Related studies

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Systematic review, 2026

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Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Systematic review, 2026

How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect?

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