Premenstrual symptoms and dysmenorrhea in relation to emotional distress factors in adolescents

The extent to which premenstrual symptoms occur when they are distinguished from primary dysmenorrhea and the relationship of premenstrual symptoms to other emotional distress in adolescents is not well understood. This pilot investigation examined relationships between premenstrual symptoms, dysmenorrhea and emotional distress factors in a sample of 165 females, ages 15-19 years. Premenstrual symptoms were correlated with dysmenorrhea (r = 0.54, p < 0.0001). Subjects with premenstrual symptoms had significantly more emotional distress than the normal group as assessed by the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), an objective self-report questionnaire. In contrast, dysmenorrhea had no relationship with the SCL factors and no interaction with premenstrual symptoms in relation to emotional distress. The SCL scores significantly decreased from baseline (2 years earlier) in the normal group but not in the premenstrual symptom group. The data show that premenstrual symptoms were associated with other emotional distress factors in adolescents while dysmenorrhea was not. A further prospective, longitudinal study of menstrually-related symptoms in adolescents is needed to learn about the development of these premenstrual symptoms that may be related to the premenstrual syndrome seen clinically in the later reproductive years.