Survey study, 2008
Can we measure how much premenstrual symptoms affect a woman's quality of life?
Yes. Researchers developed a brief 6-item survey that accurately identifies women with significant PMS or PMDD and measures its impact on daily life.
What they did
971 women aged 18-45 with regular periods completed an online survey with 68 questions about premenstrual symptoms and their impact. Researchers then reduced this to the 6 most important items and validated it against diagnostic criteria.
What they found
The final 6-item survey identified approximately 6.0% of women as at risk for PMDD and 17.3% as at risk for clinically significant PMS. The survey score correctly separated women based on whether they met diagnostic criteria and based on their overall quality of life scores.
What it means for you
This short survey is a practical tool for identifying women with significant PMS or PMDD and measuring how much it affects their life. The main limitation is that this was a one-time online survey, not daily tracking over time.
971
women surveyed
6.0%
identified as at risk for PMDD
17.3%
identified as at risk for clinically significant PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Development and validation of the Premenstrual Symptoms Impact Survey (PMSIS): a disease-specific quality of life assessment tool
- Authors
- Wallenstein GV, Blaisdell-Gross B, Gajria K et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 971
- What was tested
- 6-item Premenstrual Symptoms Impact Survey
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2007.0377
Topics
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