Survey study, 1989
Do women's memories of premenstrual depression match their daily mood ratings?
Only about half of women who reported major premenstrual depression on a questionnaire showed matching depression in daily tracking. Women with confirmed depression had worse energy and physical pain too.
What they did
59 women completed a retrospective questionnaire about premenstrual symptoms and also tracked their mood and symptoms daily for one menstrual cycle.
What they found
59 percent of women with major depressive syndrome on the retrospective questionnaire were confirmed by their daily mood ratings. Only 27 percent of women with minor depressive syndrome were confirmed. Women with confirmed premenstrual depression had significantly higher dysphoric mood, more physical discomfort, and lower energy levels than controls in the premenstrual phase. Higher consumption of substances overall was reported premenstrually than postmenstrually.
What it means for you
Not all women's memories of PMS symptoms match their actual experience tracked day by day. Daily tracking is more reliable than memory. Energy levels and physical discomfort go together with mood in PMS. Main limit: cross-sectional single-cycle study.
59%
Major depression confirmed by daily tracking
27%
Minor depression confirmed by daily tracking
About the study
- Original title
- The relationship between premenstrual dysphoria and daily ratings dimensions
- Authors
- Christensen AP, Oei TP, Callan VJ
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(89)90066-9
Topics
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