Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a considerable health problem among women that negatively impacts their functionality and productivity. Thus, this study aims to assess PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors in Saudi...

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Main Authors: Samiha Hamdi Sayed, Mohammed AL-Mohaithef, Enas Mohamed Ibrahim, Ebtesam A. Elsayed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_708_24
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author Samiha Hamdi Sayed
Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Enas Mohamed Ibrahim
Ebtesam A. Elsayed
author_facet Samiha Hamdi Sayed
Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Enas Mohamed Ibrahim
Ebtesam A. Elsayed
author_sort Samiha Hamdi Sayed
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a considerable health problem among women that negatively impacts their functionality and productivity. Thus, this study aims to assess PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional social media-based survey using a convenience sample of 623 Saudi women. A self-administered questionnaire was used, including the Personal Characteristics and Menstrual History Questionnaire and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool for Clinicians using the International Disease Classification System (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Accordingly, women were classified into four PMS groups based on the severity of the symptoms. RESULTS: In total, 63.6% of the women had clinically significant PMS, 21.8% had mild PMS, 12.2% had PMDD, and only 2.4% had no PMS. Most PMS symptoms were moderate or severe, predominating affective symptoms (e.g., mood swings, feeling tearful, irritability, low self-identity, depressed mood). Statistically significant differences were observed between the PMS groups concerning the weighted mean scores of the affective and somatic symptoms and functional impairment, where the mean scores of all PMS symptoms were higher among PMDD followed by CSPMS than the mild and no PMS groups (P < 0.01). The functional impairment showed a significantly positive and higher correlation with affective than somatic symptoms (P = 0.000). Significant differences were detected between the PMS group based on the duration of menstrual flow (P = 0.034) and the number of pads per menstruation (P = 0.042). However, they had no significant differences based on personal characteristics (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PMS is a predominant health concern in Saudi Arabia, where the moderate to severe form is the most typical with an unneglected percentage of PMDD that affects women’s productivity. Thus, the Saudi government should focus on PMS, establishing health services and community-based PMS screening and counseling services.
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spelling doaj-art-ab4ffb9b9e0b4c66bfd0b1a08fd4a3902025-08-20T02:03:07ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312319-64402025-05-0114118518510.4103/jehp.jehp_708_24Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional studySamiha Hamdi SayedMohammed AL-MohaithefEnas Mohamed IbrahimEbtesam A. ElsayedBACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a considerable health problem among women that negatively impacts their functionality and productivity. Thus, this study aims to assess PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional social media-based survey using a convenience sample of 623 Saudi women. A self-administered questionnaire was used, including the Personal Characteristics and Menstrual History Questionnaire and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool for Clinicians using the International Disease Classification System (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Accordingly, women were classified into four PMS groups based on the severity of the symptoms. RESULTS: In total, 63.6% of the women had clinically significant PMS, 21.8% had mild PMS, 12.2% had PMDD, and only 2.4% had no PMS. Most PMS symptoms were moderate or severe, predominating affective symptoms (e.g., mood swings, feeling tearful, irritability, low self-identity, depressed mood). Statistically significant differences were observed between the PMS groups concerning the weighted mean scores of the affective and somatic symptoms and functional impairment, where the mean scores of all PMS symptoms were higher among PMDD followed by CSPMS than the mild and no PMS groups (P < 0.01). The functional impairment showed a significantly positive and higher correlation with affective than somatic symptoms (P = 0.000). Significant differences were detected between the PMS group based on the duration of menstrual flow (P = 0.034) and the number of pads per menstruation (P = 0.042). However, they had no significant differences based on personal characteristics (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PMS is a predominant health concern in Saudi Arabia, where the moderate to severe form is the most typical with an unneglected percentage of PMDD that affects women’s productivity. Thus, the Saudi government should focus on PMS, establishing health services and community-based PMS screening and counseling services.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_708_24premenstrual dysphoric disorderpremenstrual syndromesaudi arabia
spellingShingle Samiha Hamdi Sayed
Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Enas Mohamed Ibrahim
Ebtesam A. Elsayed
Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
premenstrual dysphoric disorder
premenstrual syndrome
saudi arabia
title Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
title_full Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
title_short Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Symptoms severity, functional impairment, and associated factors: A Saudi cross-sectional study
title_sort premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms severity functional impairment and associated factors a saudi cross sectional study
topic premenstrual dysphoric disorder
premenstrual syndrome
saudi arabia
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_708_24
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AT enasmohamedibrahim premenstrualsyndromeandpremenstrualdysphoricdisordersymptomsseverityfunctionalimpairmentandassociatedfactorsasaudicrosssectionalstudy
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