---
title: Do standard depression tests detect mood changes linked to PMS?
description: The Beck Depression Inventory detected mood changes in women with PMS, while another test did not. This suggests PMS depression is mainly about negative think
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychological-aspects-of-premenstrual-syndrome-ii-utility-of-standardized-1992/
---

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- Do standard depression tests detect mood changes linked to PMS?

Cohort study, 1992

# Do standard depression tests detect mood changes linked to PMS?

The Beck Depression Inventory detected mood changes in women with PMS, while another test did not. This suggests PMS depression is mainly about negative thinking rather than physical symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

14 women with PMS and 10 control women

## What they did

14 women with PMS and 10 without completed two depression tests during two different phases (early in the cycle and just before their period) across two consecutive cycles.

## What they found

The Beck Depression Inventory detected mood changes in PMS women. During the late luteal phase, PMS women reported pessimism, sense of failure, dissatisfaction, guilt, self-dislike, and indecision. The Zung scale did not detect these changes.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual mood problems in PMS involve negative thoughts rather than just physical symptoms. However, this was a small study. The Beck test appears more useful for measuring PMS mood changes.

14

women with PMS

10

control women

2

consecutive menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Psychological aspects of premenstrual syndrome. II: Utility of standardized measures Authors Keenan PA, Lindamer LA, Jong SK Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 1992 Study design Cohort study What was tested None - this study measured depression, not tested a treatment Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(92)90057-e](https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(92)90057-e)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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