Table 1.
Characteristics of participants
Controls | Women with severe PMS |
|
---|---|---|
Sample size | 18 | 18 |
Age (years) | 29.2 (7.3) | 30.5 (7.6) |
Body mass index (kg.m−2) | 22.5 (2.1) | 23.7 (3.8) |
Ethnicity (No. Caucasians) | 9 | 13 |
Have children (No.) | 5 | 7 |
Years of education | 16 (2) | 16 (2) |
Menstrual cycle length (days) | 28 (2) | 29 (3) |
Menarche (age) | 12 (1) | 12 (1) |
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (No.)1 | 0 | 11 |
Past history Axis I disorder (No.) | 0 | 7c |
Daily Symptom Ratings (Follicular phase)2 | 7.2 (8.2) | 48.7 (21.9)a |
Daily Symptom Ratings (Late-luteal phase)2 | 11.5 (10.4) | 136.4 (38.8)a,b |
Subject groups did not differ on any characteristic except past history of Axis I disorder and daily symptom scores. Values are means (SD) unless otherwise indicated.
According to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria;
daily symptom scores are averaged for the follicular and late-luteal phases over two menstrual cycles; higher scores reflect more severe symptoms.
different from controls (ANOVA, group effect: F(1,32) = 167.7, p < 0.01);
different from follicular phase (ANOVA, interaction effect: F(1,32) = 67.8, p < 0.01, n = 16 controls);
Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.008.