The unidimensional approach that has dominated research on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has been remiss in visualizing the diversity of factors that may be involved in women's menstrual cycle experiences. Traditional menstrual cycle research reflects a stereotypic negative bias that does not encompass the complexity of the phenomena. For example, even though, the majority of menstrual cycle literature has focused on negative changes during the perimenstruum, some women report positive changes. This research represents an endeavor of a unique nursing intervention aimed at reframing perceptions of menstrual cycle experiences for the purpose of diminishing perimenstrual impairment. The intervention was a health promotion program which provided social support and a positive reframing component among women with PMS across four menstrual cycles. Utilizing a pre-experimental design, data was collected on eighteen women. Daily measures included prospective assessment of perceptions of perimenstrual changes (impairment and activation). Retrospective assessments of moods (anxiety and depression), social resources (personal resources and marital satisfaction), and perimenstrual change perceptions were gathered at three time periods, before, during, and after the experimental condition. Data analysis included descriptive and multivariate analyses strategies. Results indicated that although perimenstrual activation did not increase significantly, impairment did decrease. In addition, there were significant changes from baseline to follow-up on state depression and personal resource variables. This study is among the first to develop and empirically test a nursing intervention that utilized the psychotherapeutic technique of positive reframing aimed at decreasing women's negative menstrual cycle experiences. This study lends support for further investigation of women's diverse menstrual cycle experiences which challenges assumptions guiding menstrual cycle research which has continued to perceive menstruation within an illness perspective. Until researchers agree on the cause, definition, significance, and management of PMS, studies such as this one, may provide scientists a more expansive view of women's menstrual cycle experiences. Results of this study are of benefit to nurses and health care providers who are in a unique situation to facilitate support groups by virtue of the variety of their work settings.

Periodic fluctuations in women's emotions during the menstrual cycle have been a continuing topic of research and discussion. The current study was designed to determine if premenstrual syndrome conditions in female teachers have any effect on reported classroom misbehavior and infractions. Subjects were twenty-one faculty members presently employed in the capacity of teachers in a public middle school. By utilizing a teacher's daily behavioral checklist, along with student misconduct reports, the changes in teachers' moods and behavioral symptoms over the menstrual cycle were studied in relation to reported student infractions. Based on the results of this study, it appears that menstrual cycle fluctuations have no recognizable impact upon a female's classroom demeanor and her ability to discipline in a professional manner.

A treatment outcome study was conducted comparing a low-fat diet intervention with an education-support group and a waiting-list control group in the treatment of premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS) or Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder (LLPDD). Subjects met provisional diagnostic criteria for LLPDD and symptoms were monitored prospectively. A low-fat diet was hypothesized too be an effective intervention for reducing the severity of both physical and emotional symptoms in women suffering from LLPDD. This was based on the theory relating raised estrogen levels to premenstrual distress, and research suggesting low-fat diets reduce estrogen levels. The hypothesis that a low-fat diet would decrease premenstrual suffering was not supported by the results of this study. However, there appeared to be an advantage to participating in a group which provided support and information on LLPDD compared to receiving no treatment. Implications for future research, treatment recommendations, and methodological issues are discussed. / Ph. D.

The aim of the study was to assess specific psychological aspects of the premenstrual syndrome, such as stress, attitudes towards menstruation, and past history of psychosomatic illnesses. Thirteen PMS subjects, were compared with 8 control subjects, who reported only minimal or no premenstrual symptoms. In comparison to controls, PMS subjects regarded menstruation as significantly more debilitating. No significant differences were found between the groups in levels of stress. However, the PMS group evidenced a significantly greater tendency to react to emotional stress, with overcontrol, i.e. the need to control and suppress emotions. In addition, the PMS group evidenced a significantly greater history of psychosomatic illnesses, than controls. Finally, there was a significant group reduction in symptom severity, within the PMS group, over the two month period of daily monitoring of symptoms. The results of this study suggest that certain psychological factors may be implicated in premenstrual symptom severity. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Science (Psychology))

Many women reporting PMS symptoms state their symptoms affect their mood, social, and family functioning. This study attempted to provide clinicians with information to assist in psychotherapeutic intervention, by determining the effect PMS has on marital satisfaction. Nineteen female subjects reporting PMS symptoms and their partners completed the study. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R) and the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire-Form T (MDQ-form T) were used to determine if the nineteen couples reported marital distress as a result of the women's cyclical premenstrual symptoms. The results of the study suggested that the women and their partners, report high levels of marital distress that is not reflective of the cyclical nature of the PMS symptomatology. Scores on the MSI-R for the subjects and their partners indicated the couples perceived level of distress in the t-50 to t-70 range on scales 3-8 is consistent throughout the menstrual cycle. The couples reported higher levels of marital distress than would be the expected norm, suggesting that PMS may be a contributing factor to the level of distress they reported experiencing. This study did not include a control group, which would have provided a norm for couples who do not report PMS by which to compare the MSI-R scores.

The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a marital systems approach to the treatment of women with self-referred premenstrual syndrome. The first purpose of the study was to identify any significant differences on the Global Distress Scale of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory and the Causal Dimension Scale between (PMS+) and (PMS-) married couples before and after marital treatment. The second purpose of the study was to determine any significant differences on dependent measures of averaged marital ratings between (PMS+) and (PMS-) wives during thecycle ratings between (PMS+) and (PMS-) wives.Nine married couples participated in a group comparison study through Community Hospitals of Indianapolis, Indiana. The study was conducted in two phases, including a three month assessment phase followed by a two month treatment phase. Four married couples whose wives met the DSM-III-R's diagnostic criteria for Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder were included in the (PMS+) group. Five married couples whose wives did not meet the diagnostic criteria for LLPDD were included in the (PMS-) comparison group.Statistical analyses revealed significant time effects; assessment and treatment purpose of the study was differences on dependent phase of the study. The third to identify any significant measures of averaged menstrual no three-way or two-way interactive effects for any of the three hypotheses. The results clinically support the notion of treating marriages with PMS versus solely treating women with PMS. Regardless of whether wives prospectively confirmed premenstrual symptoms, treatment involving the marriage impacted menstrual cycle symptom ratings and perceptions of the marriage positively. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Premenstruellt syndrom, även kallat PMS, är något som 20-30% av alla menstruerande kvinnor uppskattas lida av. De premenstruella symtomen uppkommer i den senare delen av menstruationscykeln och återkommer vanligtvis varje månad. Symtomen kan yttra sig såväl fysiskt, psykiskt som emotionellt. Syftet med studien var att beskriva kvinnors premenstruella erfarenheter. Studien är genomförd som en litteraturstudie och baseras på 10 vetenskapliga artiklar. Ur artiklarnas resultat kunde tre huvudteman urskiljas. Resultatet av litteraturstudien visar att många kvinnor har erfarenheter av att mötas med misstro då de beskriver sin PMS. Denna misstro beskrivs i möte med såväl närstående, arbetskollegor som med hälso- sjukvårdspersonal. I studien framkommer att okunskapen kring PMS är stor, samtidigt som fenomenet ofta framställs negativt och förlöjligas. Många kvinnor beskriver värdet i att få samtala om sina premenstruella erfarenheter utan att bli dömda och misstrodda. För att utveckla en bättre omvårdnad av kvinnor som lider av PMS är det av stor vikt att genom utbildning öka kunskaperna hos hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal om detta fenomen. För att fler kvinnor skall få hjälp att lindra det lidande de premenstruella symtomen kan orsaka är det av vikt att vidare forskning bedrivs. / Premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS, is a phenomenon that is estimated to effect 20-30% of all menstruating women. The premenstrual symptoms appear in the lutheal phase of the menstrual cycle and usually recurs monthly. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of women with premenstrual syndrome. This study is conducted as a literature study, based on ten scinentific articles. Three major themes were identified from the results of the articles. The results of the literature study illustrates that women often experience disbelief when they try to describe their premenstrual experiences. The disbelief often occurs in relation to describing PMS to partners, co-workers and health care professionals. The study also shows that there is a great ignorance about PMS and the phenomenon is often portrayed negatively and ridiculed. Many women described the value of getting to talk about their premenstrual experiences without being judged and met with disbelief. It is of great importance that through education develops the nursing care and increase awareness among health care professionals about female phenomena such as PMS. To help women relieve the suffering the premenstrual symptoms can cause, it is important that further research is conducted.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsaatser.

The aim of the study was to assess specific psychological aspects of the premenstrual syndrome, such as stress, attitudes towards menstruation, and past history of psychosomatic illnesses. Thirteen PMS subjects, were compared with 8 control subjects, who reported only minimal or no premenstrual symptoms. In comparison to controls, PMS subjects regarded menstruation as significantly more debilitating. No significant differences were found between the groups in levels of stress. However, the PMS group evidenced a significantly greater tendency to react to emotional stress, with overcontrol, i.e. the need to control and suppress emotions. In addition, the PMS group evidenced a significantly greater history of psychosomatic illnesses, than controls. Finally, there was a significant group reduction in symptom severity, within the PMS group, over the two month period of daily monitoring of symptoms. The results of this study suggest that certain psychological factors may be implicated in premenstrual symptom severity. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Science (Psychology))

M.Tech. / Premenstrual syndrome affects millions of premenopausal women and has been described as one of the most common disorders in women. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is defined as the cyclic recurrence of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, food cravings, bloating, breast tenderness, and headaches during the luteal phase (from day fourteen to day one) of the menstrual cycle (Nel, 1995). PMS has been estimated to affect 75% of women of reproductive age, and there are no optimal conventional treatment options available (Steiner et al., 2006). Research has found an increased incidence of PMS in black women (Deuster et al., 1999). Due to the high number of women suffering from PMS and side-effects of conventional medicine, a safe alternative treatment for PMS is required. The homoeopathic similimum method involves prescribing one remedy at a time in optimal potency and repetition based on the totality of the individual patient’s mental, emotional and physical symptoms (Vithoulkas, 1985).