Sleep in the premenstrual phase: a self-report study of PMS patients and normal controls

Sleep disturbances commonly occur in the premenstruum in both Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) patients and in women from the general population. Reports on the Post-Sleep Inventory were obtained from a clinic sample of PMS patients and samples from the general population dichotomized into a non-clinic group with and without premenstrual disturbance on the basis of their scores on the Premenstrual Tension Syndrome Self Rating Scale. The patients reported degrees of disturbance that were consistently higher than either or both the other two groups. PMS patients reported unpleasant dreams, awakenings, failure to wake at the expected time and tiredness in the morning, and heightened mental activity during the night and upon awakening. The three groups could be reliably discriminated on this basis with an overall accuracy of 82%. Sleep disturbances form an important component of premenstrual disturbance and merit specific clinical intervention and more detailed investigation.