---
title: Can premenstrual symptom rating scales be simplified and made easier to use?
description: Yes. Researchers updated the rating scales and created a new visual scale that women found easier to use, especially those with severe PMS or PMDD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-premenstrual-tension-syndrome-rating-scales-an-updated-version-2011/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Can premenstrual symptom rating scales be simplified and made easier to use?

Survey study, 2011

# Can premenstrual symptom rating scales be simplified and made easier to use?

Yes. Researchers updated the rating scales and created a new visual scale that women found easier to use, especially those with severe PMS or PMDD.

 Early or limited evidence

23 Caucasian, English-speaking women with regular menstrual cycles

## What they did

23 women completed three different questionnaires about premenstrual symptoms: an updated clinician rating scale, an old self-rating scale, and a new visual scale.

## What they found

All three questionnaires showed very high agreement with each other. The new visual scale took less time to complete than the old self-rating scale. Most women preferred the new visual scale, especially those with PMDD or severe PMS.

## What it means for you

There is now a simpler, faster way to track premenstrual symptoms that most women prefer. The main limitation is a very small sample of only 23 women, most of whom were Caucasian and English-speaking.

23

women tested

3

questionnaires compared

very high

agreement between all scales

## About the study

Original title The premenstrual tension syndrome rating scales: an updated version Authors Steiner M, Peer M, Macdougall M et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2011 Study design Survey study Participants 23 What was tested Three rating scales for measuring premenstrual symptoms Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.06.058](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.06.058)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions?

Systematic review, 2024

Does yoga help reduce PMS symptoms?

Review, 2024

What is premenstrual exacerbation and how does it affect different psychiatric illnesses?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?

Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗