Effect of internet-based counselling with a cognitive-behavioural approach on premenstrual syndrome

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the effect of internet-based counselling with a cognitive-behavioural approach on symptom severity of women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and their quality of life during the perimenstrual and late follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. Moreover, the PMS-related disability and attitude toward menstruation were investigated as secondary outcomes.

Data description

We provide data generated in a randomized controlled trial with two-parallel arms carried out on 92 female university students aged 18–35 years who had moderate to severe PMS, residing at halls of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. PMS severity was assessed during two menstrual cycles before intervention (baseline) and during two cycles just after ending the two-month intervention using Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) and the quality of life using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire—Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) on days 1–2 and 11–13 of the menstrual cycle at the baseline and post-intervention. Also, the PMS-related disability was assessed using Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and attitude toward menstruation using Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) at the baseline and post-intervention. Participant satisfaction and views on intervention effectiveness were also assessed using a single Likert question.

Objective

About 20% of women of reproductive age suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) [1]. The syndrome leads to various consequences, including physical, psychological, behavioral, and social complications [2]. Most previous studies show a positive effect of in-person cognitive-behavioral therapy on PMS severity [3,4,5]. However, due to some limitations such as distance and time limits, as well as cost constraints, some women are unable to access such therapy [6]. We found only a trial, conducted in a developed country (Germany) [7], with promising results on the positive effect of an alternative method of the therapy named internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) on PMS. This method has no limitations of the in-person method. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of internet-based counselling with a cognitive-behavioural approach on the PMS severity and the quality of life of Iranian female university students suffering from PMS. In addition, the PMS-related disability and attitude toward menstruation were investigated as secondary outcomes. The details of the experiments and analysis performed and findings based on these data have been published in 2022 [8].

Data description

The provided data were gathered for a randomized controlled trial with two-parallel arms carried out on 92 eligible university students aged 18–35 years residing at halls of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences which were equally allocated into the study groups.

The potentially eligible participants, selected using a checklist of initial eligibility requirements, initially completed a socio-demographic and reproductive questionnaire, as well as a validated Persian version of the 19-item Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) [9]. Those with a positive result in the screening provided written informed consent and filled in the 21-item Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) [10] during their next menstrual cycle, also completed the 21-item validated Persian version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) [11] on one of the days of their mid-follicular phase (days + 7 to + 10 of the menstrual cycle). After exclusion of those with severe depression, the remaining participants completed the DRSP for the second menstrual cycle, the 3-item Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) [12] and the 33-item Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) [13] on day 1 or 2 of the second cycle, also 14-item of the Quality-of-Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire—Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) [14] twice (on days 1–2 and days 11–13 of the menstrual cycle). Finally, female students with moderate to severe PMS diagnosed by the DRSP were randomized into the groups.

The internet-based educational content for eight sessions was provided during two months for the intervention in a scheduled manner. The control group did not receive any intervention during the study period, but received the content after doing all post-test assessments.

Primary outcomes were the mean score of total PMS symptoms, and quality of life during the perimenstrual and the late follicular phases. Secondary outcomes were the mean scores of sub-scales of DRSP, PMS-related disability, and MAQ domains. All were assessed at baseline post-intervention.

Also, participant satisfaction with the intervention was assessed using a single 5-point Likert question, and their opinions on the effectiveness of intervention using another single 6-point Likert question.

Data have been entered in an SPSS Spreadsheet and analyzed using the software (Table 1).

Table 1 Overview of data files/data sets

Limitations

• It was impossible to blind the participants, healthcare providers, and outcome assessors, who were also the participants.

• We could not recruit any participants from the private residence halls.

• The results may not be generalizable to all women suffering from PMS since the study was included only medical students.

• The long-term effectiveness of the intervention is unknown because we only follow the participants for two menstrual cycles after the end of the intervention.