title: The epidemiology of premenstrual symptoms in a population-based sample of 2650 urban women: attributable risk and risk factors.
abstract: This epidemiologic survey achieved a reliable measure of the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms by avoiding the biases of small or selected samples, anamnestic error, and subjective expectation. From 6232 women (a 78.8% response), aged 20-49 years, identified through a random sample of urban households, the 24-hour prevalence of symptoms was obtained using the Moos' Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, administered without reference to the menstrual cycle. For 71% of the naturally cycling women, current cycle phase was determined by follow-up (n = 2650); but a higher prevalence of severe or moderately severe affective symptoms in the premenstrual compared to the mid-cycle phase was not found. However, observed risk factor interactions led to the conclusion that premenstrual distress is a discrete mood disorder, affecting women aged 25-35 years, with probable ovulatory cycles, and vulnerable to stress; and that the risk of affective symptoms attributable to the premenstrual state was one percent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramcharan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Fick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldfien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014505:Urban Population