Intermenstrual affect in women with symptomatic premenstrual change

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Symptomatic premenstrual change (SPC) is often associated with psychological distress.
• Understanding the psychological profile of women with SPC is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether women seeking treatment for SPC experience persistent psychological disturbance.
• To compare the psychological states of women with SPC to those with affective disorders, asymptomatic women, and the general community.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, comparative study involving four groups of reproductive-age women.
• Psychological assessments included the Profile of Mood States, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, IPAT Anxiety and Depression Scales, General Health Questionnaire, and Family Inventory of Life Events (FILE).
• Data collected included demographics, current stresses, and past stresses.

Main Results:

• In the intermenstrual phase, women with SPC were psychologically distinct from psychiatric patients but similar to community and asymptomatic women.
• During the premenstrual phase, women with SPC showed mood states comparable to psychiatric patients.
• Women with SPC reported higher levels of past external stresses compared to community controls.

Conclusions:

• Symptomatic premenstrual change is not indicative of chronic psychological disturbance when assessed outside the premenstrual phase.
• The cyclical nature of mood changes in SPC is significant, with premenstrual symptoms aligning with affective disorder profiles.
• Past external stressors may play a role in the experience of symptomatic premenstrual change.