---
title: Does the Arabic version of the Premenstrual Screening Tool accurately diagnose PMDD?
description: The Arabic screening tool correctly identified women without PMDD but missed many who had it. It had high specificity (95.6%) but low sensitivity (26.7%), so
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-in-arab-women-validation-and-cultural-adaptation-2019/
---

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- Does the Arabic version of the Premenstrual Screening Tool accurately diagnose PMDD?

Survey study, 2019

# Does the Arabic version of the Premenstrual Screening Tool accurately diagnose PMDD?

The Arabic screening tool correctly identified women without PMDD but missed many who had it. It had high specificity (95.6%) but low sensitivity (26.7%), so it can still be useful in primary care settings but needs improvement.

 Early or limited evidence

194 adult women from primary care centers in Doha, Qatar

## What they did

They translated and adapted the screening tool to Arabic, then recruited 194 adult women from two primary care centers in Doha, Qatar between October 2013 and March 2014. A psychiatrist diagnosed PMDD using a structured interview, and another clinician administered the Arabic version of the screening tool.

## What they found

About 37% of the women had premenstrual symptoms and about 15% had PMDD. The mean age of women with PMDD was about 30 years, and most had children. The screening tool had high specificity of 95.6% but low sensitivity of 26.7%.

## What it means for you

The tool is good at ruling out PMDD (few false positives) but misses many real cases (many false negatives). This was tested in one country with a relatively small group, so results may differ elsewhere.

194

women studied

15%

with PMDD

95.6%

specificity of the screening tool

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder in Arab women: Validation and cultural adaptation of the Arabic version of the premenstrual screening tool Authors Mahfoud Z, Emam R, Anchassi D et al. Journal Women & health Year 2019 Study design Survey study Participants 194 What was tested Arabic version of the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2018.1539433](https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2018.1539433)

## 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/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/)

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

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Survey study, 2001

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