Cohort study, 1990
Is there a reliable way to track and diagnose PMS using a daily symptom diary?
Yes. A simple daily symptom calendar was very accurate at telling women with PMS apart from women without it, when used for two cycles in a row.
What they did
Researchers created a daily tracking tool called the calendar of premenstrual experiences. They gave it to 36 women who had been carefully screened for PMS and 18 women without PMS, across two menstrual cycles in a row. They compared the calendar scores to two established, longer mood questionnaires (the Beck Depression Inventory and the Profile of Mood States).
What they found
The calendar correctly told PMS women apart from controls in 104 of 108 cycles, with only a 2.8% false-negative rate and no false positives when used over two cycles. Calendar scores matched well with the other mood questionnaires (correlations of 0.46 to 0.61, all highly significant), and repeating the test in the same cycle phase twice gave very consistent results (correlation 0.78).
What it means for you
This daily calendar looks like a practical, trustworthy way to confirm PMS, especially useful before starting treatment or research. The study was small and done in rigidly screened women, so results may not apply to everyone with milder or less typical symptoms.
104/108 cycles
correctly identified PMS vs controls
2.8%
false-negative rate
r=0.78
test-retest reliability
About the study
- Original title
- Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome by a simple, prospective, and reliable instrument: the calendar of premenstrual experiences
- Authors
- Mortola JF, Girton L, Beck L et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 36
- What was tested
- A daily self-report symptom calendar (not a treatment, a diagnostic tool)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(91)90644-k
Topics
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