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The shortened premenstrual assessment form.
S S Allen1, C M McBride, P L Pirie
1Department of Family Practice and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|November 1, 1991
Summary
A shortened 10-item Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) offers a reliable and valid method for assessing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. This brief version is suitable for clinical and research settings when the full 95-item PAF is impractical.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Gynecology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) research is hindered by inadequate assessment tools.
- The existing 95-item Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) is lengthy and may not suit all research or clinical needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To shorten the PAF and validate the new, brief instrument.
- To assess the reliability and validity of a condensed PAF for PMS symptom measurement.
Main Methods:
- Selected 20 items from the original 95-item PAF based on symptom change frequency.
- Administered the 20-item PAF at baseline and 6/12-month follow-ups.
- Conducted factor analysis and compared results with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Main Results:
- A 10-item PAF demonstrated high internal consistency and reliability.
- Factor analysis identified three subscales: affect, water retention, and pain.
- The 10-item PAF showed distinct and stable symptom measurement, with higher correlation to itself over time than to nicotine withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- The 10-item PAF is a reliable and valid tool for assessing PMS.
- This shortened version is practical for studies or clinical situations where the full PAF is not feasible.