---
title: Is the PMS questionnaire reliable and what are the main symptom patterns?
description: Yes, the questionnaire is very reliable (0.94 internal consistency). It shows that PMS symptoms fall into two main patterns: dysphoria (mood problems) and dys
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/investigation-of-the-reliability-and-factor-structure-of-a-questionnaire-for-1993/
---

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- Is the PMS questionnaire reliable and what are the main symptom patterns?

Survey study, 1993

# Is the PMS questionnaire reliable and what are the main symptom patterns?

Yes, the questionnaire is very reliable (0.94 internal consistency). It shows that PMS symptoms fall into two main patterns: dysphoria (mood problems) and dysfunction (difficulty functioning in daily life).

 Moderate study design

696 women completing a PMS questionnaire.

## What they did

Cross-sectional validation study of 696 women who completed a 35-item retrospective self-report PMS questionnaire. Researchers analyzed which items were most useful, tested reliability, and examined the underlying structure using factor analysis.

## What they found

Item analysis eliminated six items that only reflected physical symptoms. The final 29-item questionnaire showed very high internal consistency (coefficient alpha 0.94) and strong split-half reliability. Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure: dysphoria (mood) and dysfunction (life impact), creating a four-quadrant typology of PMS.

## What it means for you

A reliable questionnaire helps researchers across different studies compare results consistently. The two main patterns (mood problems and life dysfunction) could help researchers and doctors better understand different types of PMS. Main limitation: showing the questionnaire is internally consistent does not prove it actually measures what it claims to measure.

696

Women completing questionnaire

0.94

Internal consistency coefficient

2

Main symptom factors identified

## About the study

Original title Investigation of the reliability and factor structure of a questionnaire for assessment of the premenstrual syndrome Authors Condon JT Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 1993 Study design Survey study Participants 696 What was tested None. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90009-5](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90009-5)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Cohort study, 2026

Does having PMS before pregnancy increase the risk of postpartum depression?

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Study, 2026

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

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