4. Published data from trial Vanselow 1996.

	Outcome	Mean ± SD					Across all conditions		Between treatments
		Before the trial	Placebo	Vaginal progesterone	Oral progesterone	At follow‐up	F	p	F	p
BDI	total	12.20±5.37	5.25±4.85	7.70±6.30	6.75±6.26	9.50±7.98	4.96	0.001	1.50	0.234
STPI	anger	24.65±10.57	15.10±8.53	16.15±7.44	16.05±7.17	17.45±9.09	6.14	0.0002	0.28	0.756
	anxiety	29.55±5.63	18.85±9.23	21.00±7.80	22.30±8.41	23.05±8.49	6.68	0.0001	1.16	0.325
MDQ	total	72.05±22.52	40.60±24.53	40.25±28.92	40.90±21.53	50.95±32.31	10.64	0.0001	1.66	0.998
	water	7.95±3.17	5.70±3.50	5.80±4.32	5.80±3.82	6.70±3.70	3.84	0.0067	0.04	0.965
	pain	8.85±4.32	4.70±4.05	5.60±5.13	5.15±4.09	6.40±5.17	5.32	0.0008	0.57	0.568
	loss of contration	13.2±6.25	6.3±6.83	6.40±7.31	6.00±5.02	8.05±6.40	7.93	0.0001	0.09	0.918
	behavioural change	11.30±4.99	5.50±4.5 9	5.40±5.05	5.65±4.20	8.35±6.28	10.90	0.0001	0.02	0.979
	negative affect	21.50±6.13	7.95±8.90	9.90±9.04	10.00±7.55	12.55±9.20	10.45	0.0001	0.51	0.6058
	autonomic reaction	2.10±2.83	1.30±2.36	0.65±1.39	1.25±2.05	1.85±3.39	1.40	0.243	0.96	0.391
	arousal	4.65±2.48	7.95±3.71	5.25±3.32	6.15±2.72	5.35±3.20	4.33	0.0033	3.90	0.0283
	control	2.65±2.32	1.35±1.85	1.30±2.81	0.95±2.31	2.05±3.87	2.00	0.1028	0.25	0.78

Numerical data from this small (n=22) trial cannot reliably be interpreted. Many of the standard deviations were almost as large, or larger than their means. Only data from one day in the second cycle for each of the three comparisons was reported. As explained, the BDI and STPI are not designed for PMS and reliance on the MDQ for one day in each cycle, is unsafe. Losses to follow‐up were not adequately addressed.