Correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder among female university students

Is trait rumination associated with affective reactivity to the menstrual cycle? A prospective analysis

BACKGROUND

A minority of naturally cycling individuals experience clinically significant affective changes across the menstrual cycle. However, few studies have examined cognitive and behavioral constructs that may maintain or worsen these changes. Several small studies link rumination with premenstrual negative affect, with authors concluding that a tendency to ruminate amplifies and perpetuates hormone-sensitive affective symptoms. Replication in larger samples is needed to confirm the validity of rumination as a treatment target.

METHOD

190 cycling individuals (M = 30.82 years; 61.1% Caucasian) were recruited for moderate perceived stress, a risk factor for cyclical symptoms. They completed the Rumination Response Scale at baseline, then reported daily affective and physical symptoms across 1-6 cycles. Multilevel growth models tested trait rumination as a predictor of baseline levels, luteal increases, and follicular decreases in symptoms.

RESULTS

The degree of affective cyclicity was normally distributed across a substantial range, supporting feasibility of hypothesis tests and validating the concept of dimensional hormone sensitivity. Contrary to prediction, higher brooding did not predict levels or cyclical changes of any symptom. In a subsample selected for luteal increases in negative affect, brooding predicted higher baseline negative affect but still did not predict affective cyclicity.

CONCLUSIONS

An individual's trait-like propensity to engage in rumination may not be a valid treatment target in premenstrual mood disorders. State-like changes in rumination should still be further explored, and well-powered prospective studies should explore other cognitive and behavioral factors to inform development of targeted psychological treatments for patients with cyclical affective symptoms.

Depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between the retrospectively measured symptoms of premenstrual disorders and negative but not positive psychotic-like experiences

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between retrospectively measured premenstrual symptoms and subclinical forms of positive and negative psychotic symptoms (psychotic-like experiences; PLEs). It was hypothesised that subjective intensity of the symptoms of premenstrual disorders predicts PLEs frequency and that this relationship is mediated by anxiety and depression. The study sample comprised 108 non-clinical subjects. Study variables were assessed with self-report questionnaires: the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST); the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II); the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; trait sub-scale); the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Regression and mediation analyses were performed. The PSST scores were significantly and positively associated with psychotic-like experiences frequency. The relation was stronger for positive PLEs. Anxiety and depression partially mediated the relationship between premenstrual symptoms and negative PLEs, but not between premenstrual symptoms and positive PLEs. Although the design of the study does not allow to infer causality, it demonstrates strong, positive relationship between the symptoms of premenstrual disorders and psychotic-like experiences. The relationship between premenstrual disorders and negative PLEs seems to be partially based on a general psychopathological factor. Further longitudinal studies are needed to test whether premenstrual disturbances increase risk of psychotic symptoms.

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Quality of Life in Adolescent Girls with Dysmenorrhoea in a Remote Area of Western Rajasthan

Background

The aim of this study was to examine depression and anxiety in adolescent girls with dysmenorrhoea in a remote area of western Rajasthan, as well as their quality of life.

Methods

The present research employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A total of 492 girls between the ages of 13 and 19 years were randomly selected from two secondary schools in a remote area of western Rajasthan. The menstrual issues were studied using the semi-structured health performa. The magnitude of dysmenorrhoea was calculated using a ten-point visual analogue scale. The GAD-7 scale was used to measure anxiety, and PHQ-9 was used to measure depression.

Results

Depression and anxiety were substantially more prevalent in girls with dysmenorrhoea than in girls without dysmenorrhoea, with an overall prevalence of 29.25% and 37.11%, respectively (p value 0.00). Girls with dysmenorrhoea had an average pain level of 5.14 (SD = 2.45) over the previous three menstrual cycles (p value 0.00). 186 girls (58.62%) suffered moderate pain during dysmenorrhoea. 124 girls (38.99%) reported that dysmenorrhoea interfered with their regular sleep and compelled them to skip class (50.31%) (p value < 0.05). 175 girls (55.03%) reported that dysmenorrhoea had a mild effect on their daily lives, while 88 girls (27.67%) said dysmenorrhoea made them feel stressed (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion

A greater prevalence of dysmenorrhoea had a negative impact on mental health. Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to these mental health problems. It is important to have a tenuous understanding of the menstrual problems associated with disease in adolescent females, especially in rural areas.

Emotion-focused group therapy among women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) contributes to couple burnout, reduced quality of life, sexual dysfunction, and social isolation. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-focused group therapy (EFGT) in pain perception, self-compassion, sexual function, and couple burnout in women with PMDD. Method: Among married females with PMDD, 72 participants were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and waitlist control groups. EFGT was performed in 10 sessions for the subjects in the experimental groups. The McGill Pain Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, Female Sexual Function Index and Couple Burnout Measure were used to collect data in the pre-test and post-test. To analyze the data, an analysis of covariance test was applied. Results: The findings demonstrated that EFGT was effective in pain perception (p < .001, η²=.80), self-compassion (p < .001, η²= .86), sexual function (p < .001, η²= .38), and couple burnout (p < .001, η²= .70). Participants of EFGT improved well, were satisfied with treatment, and had a good therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: Implementing EFGT increased the components of self-compassion and sexual function, and reduced the components of pain perception and couple burnout. It seems that EFGT could be effective in women with PMDD.