Distinction between women with premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder and healthy women based on clustering Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition scores in the follicular phase

Abstract

　Many adult women complain of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). An accurate distinction between women with PMS or PMDD and healthy women is difficult because their symptoms vary and range from physical to mental symptoms. This study aimed to develop a method for the distinction between subjects with PMDD or PMS and healthy women based on clustering the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS ^®2) scores. Nineteen adult women aged 20‒22 years (three PMDD subjects, five PMS subjects, 11 non-PMS subjects) were included in this study. The abridged Japanese version of POMS ^®2 was administered to the subjects during their follicular and luteal phases. All subjects were clustered based on the scores on the subscales of the POMS ^®2 analysed by the ward method. In the follicular phase, the subjects were divided into two clusters. The subjects classified into cluster 1, which consisted of 9 non-PMS, had higher scores in Friendliness and Vigor-Activity. In contrast, cluster 2 consisted of all subjects with PMS or PMDD and two non-PMS women who seem to have mild PMS. A method based on scores of POMS ^®2 in the follicular phase has been proposed as a way to distinguish between women with PMS or PMDD and healthy women.