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The premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) for clinicians
M Steiner1, M Macdougall, E Brown
1McMaster University, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, ON, Canada. mst@mcmaster.ca
Archives of Women'S Mental Health
|August 16, 2003
Summary
A new Premenstrual Symptoms Screening tool (PSST) quickly identifies women with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) who may need treatment.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) require accurate diagnostic tools.
- Existing methods for diagnosing PMS/PMDD can be time-consuming and complex.
- There is a need for a user-friendly screening instrument to identify affected individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple, user-friendly screening tool for severe PMS/PMDD.
- To identify women who are likely to benefit from treatment for their premenstrual symptoms.
Main Methods:
- The Premenstrual Symptoms Screening tool (PSST) was developed, translating DSM-IV criteria into a severity rating scale.
- 519 women aged 18-55 from a primary care setting completed the PSST.
- The tool assesses the severity and impact of premenstrual symptoms.
Main Results:
- The PSST effectively identified women with severe PMS/PMDD.
- Results align with prevalence rates from large prospective studies.
- The tool demonstrated practicality and efficiency compared to prospective charting.
Conclusions:
- The PSST is an effective and practical screening tool for identifying women with severe PMS/PMDD.
- It serves as a valuable starting point for further clinical assessment and treatment.
- The tool simplifies the initial identification of patients who could benefit from intervention.