Study, 1991
Is personality testing reliable in women with PMS?
No. Personality test results changed significantly depending on whether women were tested during their best or worst time of the cycle, suggesting the changes reflected the cycle phase rather than true personality differences.
What they did
Two hundred fourteen women with moderate to severe PMS who came to outpatient PMS clinics were given the MMPI personality test twice - once during the time of their cycle when they felt best and once during the time they felt worst. These women were carefully selected from a larger group of 1,849 based on strict criteria for PMS.
What they found
Personality test profiles showed wide changes between the best and worst times of the cycle for many patients.
What it means for you
Personality tests like the MMPI should not be relied on for diagnosis or assessment in women with PMS because results change based on cycle phase. This change probably reflects PMS symptoms affecting responses, not changes in actual personality. The main limit is that this study only describes what happens, not why.
214
women tested
1,849
intake files screened
About the study
- Original title
- The MMPI and premenstrual syndrome: profile fluctuations between best and worst times during the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Palmer SA, Lambert MJ, Richards RL
- Journal
- Journal of clinical psychology
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 214
- What was tested
- None - observational personality testing