Premenstrual Changes in Adolescents

청소년의 월경전기 변화

To assess premenstrual changes in adolescents, a self rating retrospective premenstrual assessment from(PAF) and a prospective daily rating form(DRF) were administered to 230 high school students who reported premenstrual changes. The results were as follows 1) According to typological categories of retrospective premenstrual assessment form, the most commonly reported changes in mood and behavior were major depressive syndrome(40.0%), impulsive syndrome(20.9%). Especially among the subtype of depressive syndrome, hostility feature and withdrawal feature were most frequent. The most commonly reported changes in physical condition were general discomfort(73.5%), fatigue(33.9%). 50.9% of all subjects reported impaired social function. 2) 41.2% of the subjects who met the criteria for typological categories of retrospective premenstrual assessment form were confirmed by prospective daily rating form. 3) According to different criteria of percent change method of assessing symptom change, 38.7% of all subjects had at least one mild premenstrual change and 23.5% had at least one moderate premenstrual change. 4) Using prospective daily rating form, overall psychological changes were confirmed more frequently than physical changes. Of the mild premenstrual changes, 'low energy, tired & weak', 'less or impaired work' were most common changes. Of the moderate premenstrual changes, the most common change was 'low energy, tired & weak'. 5) As attitude toward menstruation, 44.9% of the subjects with confirmed premenstrual changes had more negative attitude(disgusted) toward menstruation. 6) The subjects with confirmed mild or moderate premenstrual changes had only dysphoric mood changes or both physical and dysphoric mood changes, but did not have only physical changes. These results suggest that retrospective reports of premenstrual changes were partially confirmed by daily prospective ratings. A substantial number of adolescents appeared to experience premenstrual changes, and the most common confimed premenstrual change of mild or moderate severity was 'low energy, tired and weak'.