COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF 3 PMS ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS - THE IDENTIFICATION OF PREMENSTRUAL-SYNDROME WITH CORE SYMPTOMS

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a commonly encountered complaint among women, This study compared the PMS Diary (PMSD), which measures core m enstrual symptoms (negative affect, water retention, and pain symptoms ), with two commonly used self-rating forms, the Menstrual Distress Qu estionnaire (MDQ) and the Daily Rating Form (DRF), Thirty-seven premen opausal women with documented PMS completed the forms. A multitrait-mu ltimethod analysis was performed to determine overall agreement and re liability. The three instruments and their component scale scores had strong internal consistency, Correlations between overall scores and b etween scales measuring similar constructs were strong, Correlations w ere 0.77 between PMSD and MDQ; 0.67 between PMSD and DRF; and 0.81 bet ween MDQ and DRF. The PMSD performs as effectively as more extensive q uestionnaires in measuring symptoms in women with PMS, The PMS Diary i s a concise yet reliable and valid instrument that can be easily admin istered in ambulatory care and longitudinal research.