Can a chatbot help monitor PMS symptoms over time?

Background. According to foreign authors, this condition affects at least 60% of women worldwide. To identify symptoms, patients are typically advised to fill out a specific questionnaire (for example, the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, DRSP), but there is no standardized template in Russia. The principles for monitoring patients with PMS during treatment and rehabilitation have not been established, particularly regarding the use of educational programs aimed at preventing the development of PMS. However, with the advancement of digital technologies, new horizons are opening up for more accurate and effective diagnosis of this condition. The article describes the experience of using a specifically developed chatbot in Telegram PMS BOT, for diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of patients. Objective. Determining the prevalence and severity of pain syndromes throughout the menstrual cycle in women suffering from PMS, as well as the possibility of assessing the effectiveness of taking herbal preparation (Cyclodynon) based on Vitex agnus-castus, using a specially developed Telegram chatbot PMS BOT. Materials and methods. One hundred fifty-eight women of reproductive age participated in the study. Over six consecutive cycles, the patients completed a short daily survey, recording data on symptoms, their intensity, and duration in the Telegram chatbot PMS BOT, similar to maintaining a menstrual diary. The women chose the time for the survey notification themselves, initiating the chat with the bot. The main group consisted of 70 patients with a regular menstrual cycle but with varying degrees of PMS symptoms that hindered their professional activities, education, and usual social functioning, without taking hormonal medications in the last six months. The control group included 88 women without clinical signs of PMS. All participants were of reproductive age. The average age of patients with PMS was 29.1±0.8 years, while the control group had an average age of 29.3±0.3 years. The study was conducted during the I and II phases of the menstrual cycle to obtain a dynamic view of symptom development, intensity, and duration. For the first three months, the patients did not take any medications, while in the following three months, both groups took a preparation based on Vitex agnus-castus. Results. In the study of pain syndromes during the first half of the menstrual cycle, the diagnosis of primary fibromyalgia, according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (1990), fully corresponded to 15 (21.4 %) women in the main group. No cases of primary fibromyalgia were identified in the control group. Complaints of headaches were reported by 33 (47.14 %) patients with PMS and 9 (10.22 %) clinically healthy women. When examining the prevalence of various manifestations of premenstrual syndrome according to the chatbot data in the second half of the menstrual cycle, a predominance of complaints related to pain manifestations (46 %) was observed among women in the main group. In the main group, at least one symptom of fibromyalgia was present in 72 (93.5 %) women, which was significantly more frequent (p<0.05) compared to healthy women. Complaints of headaches in the second half of the menstrual cycle were reported by 48 (68.57%) patients with PMS. At the same time, the number of women suffering from headaches in the control group remained unchanged at 9 (10.22%). After the examination, women in the main group were prescribed a preparation based on Vitex agnus-castus. After three months of taking the medication, according to the survey conducted via the Telegram chatbot PMS BOT, complete recovery was reported by 58 (82.6%) women, significant improvement was noted in 10 (14.3%), and no effect was observed in 2 (2.6%) patients. Conclusion. The advantages of integrating digital technologies in PMS diagnosis include a more personalized approach to treatment, convenience in data collection, and the potential for closer interaction between doctors and patients. A medicinal product based on VAC extract (Cyclodynon) has proven its effectiveness in patients with premenstrual syndrome. Due to its hormone-regulating and anti-inflammatory effects this herbal medicine allows a differentiated selection of treatment for women who do not require contraception or are unable to take hormonal medications for various reasons. Despite the positive results of studies, further clinical trials are necessary to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its mechanisms of action and to adjust dosages accordingly. It is important to note that the treatment approach to PMS should be personalized, and medicinal product based on Vitex agnus-castus can be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

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