The measurement of premenstrual mood symptoms

Introduction: To aid in the diagnosis and management of premenstrual syndro mes, dozens of symptom measurement instruments have been created and severa l methods for classifying clinically important change in symptoms have been defined. While the diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has become standardized through the application of research criteria, consensu s amongst investigators as to the instruments best able to confirm the diag nosis and measure treatment effects has yet to be reached. Objective: To de termine the performance and inter-correlations of three prospective symptom rating scales used to establish severity of premenstrual mood symptoms and measure efficacy during a treatment trial for premenstrual dysphoria. Meth ods: Single item visual analogue scales (VASs) for irritability, tension, d epression and mood swings were used in combination with the Premenstrual Te nsion Syndrome Observer (PMTS-O) and Self-Rating (PMTS-SR) scales to measur e the severity of premenstrual mood symptoms at baseline and during treatme nt. Results. Premenstrual mood symptoms as measured by VASs significantly c orrelated with PMTS-O and PMTS-SR scale scores (range 0.70 to 0.82, P < 0.0 01). All scales were sensitive to premenstrual symptom worsening (which is a required characteristic of this disorder) and revealed differences in eff ects of treatment on premenstrual mood symptoms (P < 0.001). Conclusions: V ASs in combination with the PMTS-O are low in burden to the client, reliabl e, Valid and sensitive to change. In Light of the current debates regarding instruments most appropriate for the classification and measurement of tre atment effects in women diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoria, further refi nement of these scales is warranted. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.