Survey study, 1992
Why has it been so hard to define premenstrual syndrome?
Despite 58 years of research since 1931, doctors and researchers still cannot agree on what PMS is or which doctors should treat it. The paper argues that cultural beliefs about women have shaped how medicine understands PMS.
What they did
A review of how PMS has been studied and understood since 1931, examining how cultural attitudes influence medical research.
What they found
The term Premenstrual Tension was coined in 1931. After 58 years of scientific research, there is still no agreed-upon definition of PMS. Disagreement continues about whether PMS should be treated by gynecologists or psychiatrists. Cultural beliefs about women in Western society have shaped medical knowledge about PMS.
What it means for you
How scientists study PMS has been influenced by cultural beliefs about women as well as by medical facts. The main limitation is that this is an essay about medical beliefs rather than a clinical study.
1931
year the term Premenstrual Tension was coined
58
years of research with no agreed definition
About the study
- Original title
- The social construction of premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Rodin M
- Journal
- Social science & medicine (1982)
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None (literature review)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(92)90118-a
Topics
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