The experience and severity of premenstrual syndrome among a Saudi sample using a newly developed Arabic language scale

Abstract EN

ckground: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) has been described widely in the medical literature with limited reports on its prevalence and severity in the Arabian Gulf region.

Method: The present study is a cross-sectional study conducted between 1st July 2013 and 5th August 2013.

An Arabic scale was developed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria for PMS with the aim of evaluating PMS experience and severity among a Saudi sample.

The scale has 23 items evaluating psychological symptoms, physiological symptoms, and impairment of functioning.

The scale was distributed to 350 women in the following cities of Saudi Arabia: Dammam, Dhahran, Safwa, Jeddah, and Riyadh.

Only 278 women completed the scale.

Result: Cronbach alpha coefficients were greater than 0.8 indicating excellent internal consistency.

Convergent and discriminant validity were measured using the cross correlation approach and items defining each domain significantly correlated with each other.

The majority of the sample had mild to moderate psychological and physical symptoms with some mild impairment in functioning (mainly daily routine and relationships).

Psychological symptoms were more prevalent than physical symptoms, but the difference was not major.

Conclusion: Results indicate that 99% of the sample was found to suffer from PMS symptoms with the majority of women experiencing mild symptoms (48.9%).

The rates of moderate and severe PMS were 44.6% and 5.6% respectively.