title: Daily symptom ratings for studying premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To review how daily symptom ratings have been used in research into premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and to discuss opportunities for the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  PsycINFO and Medline were systematically searched, resulting in the inclusion of 75 studies in which (1) participants met the diagnostic criteria for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) or PMDD and (2) diaries were used to study LLPDD/PMDD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date, diaries have been used to gain insight into the aetiology and phenomenology of PMDD, to examine associated biological factors, and to assess treatment efficacy. We found low consistency among the diaries used, and often only part of the menstrual cycle was analysed instead of the whole menstrual cycle. We also observed that there was substantial variability in diagnostic procedures and criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review excluded diary studies conducted in women with premenstrual syndrome, women seeking help for premenstrual complaints without a clear diagnosis, and women without premenstrual complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective daily ratings of symptoms and related variables provide a valuable and important tool in the study of PMDD. This paper addresses some options for improving the use of diaries and proposes the use of experience sampling and ecological momentary assessment to investigate within-person variability in symptoms in more detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.bosman@ggzingeest.nl.
authors.forename: Renske C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bosman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sophie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miloserdov
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schoevers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands; School of Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marije
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: aan het Rot
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D065446:Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Daily ratings; Diaries; Menstrual cycle; Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; Premenstrual syndrome