The premenstrual mind: examining cognitive distortions across symptom domains and severity levels of premenstrual syndrome

Saumyashree Mohapatra; Somani Acharya; Pratiti Das; Jashobanta Mahapatra

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263705

Authors

Saumyashree Mohapatra Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Institute (CoE), S.C.B Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India
Somani Acharya Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Institute (CoE), S.C.B Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5782-4519
Pratiti Das Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Institute (CoE), S.C.B Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1778-6140
Jashobanta Mahapatra Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Institute (CoE), S.C.B Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263705

Keywords:

Premenstrual syndrome, PMS severity, Cognitive distortions, Nursing students

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent condition in menstruating women, encompassing varied symptoms ranging from physical, behavioural, emotional, psychological, to cognitive symptoms. Cognitive changes during the PMS phase may contribute to distorted thinking patterns such as all-or-nothing thinking, emotional reasoning, personalization, etc, which may worsen mood, leading to exaggerated emotional responses. Emerging evidence suggests that the nature and extent of these cognitive distortions may vary with the severity of PMS symptoms. This study aims to investigate the presence of cognitive distortions during the premenstrual phase and examine whether the types of cognitive distortions vary across symptom profiles of PMS.

Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted female B.Sc. nursing students ranging from 17 to 26 years of age from S.C.B Medical College of Nursing, recruited after obtaining informed consent. PMS severity and cognitive distortions during the premenstrual phase are assessed and categorised using the premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS) and cognitive distortion scale (CDS), respectively. Data is analysed for descriptive statistics and correlation was done using appropriate statistical packages.

Results: The PMS total score and PMS severity showed moderated positive correlation with most cognitive distortions, with the strongest relationship observed for emotional reasoning, catastrophization, all-or-nothing thinking, and mind reading. Moreover, within symptom domains, psychological symptoms demonstrated the strongest associations across most cognitive distortions.

Conclusions: The present study highlights a significant associations between the severity of PMS and cognitive distortions, among female nursing students, highlighting the importance of addressing cognitive patterns in the psychological management of PMS among young women.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Guyton AC, Hall JE. Textbook of medical physiology. 10th ed. New Delhi: Harcourt India Private Limited. 2001.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Arlington (VA): American Psychiatric Publishing. 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Beck AT. Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press. 1976.

Śliwerski A, Bielawska-Batorowicz E. Negative cognitive styles as risk factors for the occurrence of PMS and PMDD. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2019;37(3):322-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2018.1543943

Lone FR, Singh M. Study of prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in nursing students. J Psychosex Health. 2024;6(4):366-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318241299031

Padmavathi P, Sankar R, Kokilavani N, Dhanapal K, Ashok B. Validity and reliability study of premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS). Int J Adv Nurs Manag. 2014;2(1):4-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15419/ajhs.v2i1.417

Covin R, Dozois DJA, Ogniewicz A, Seeds PM. Measuring cognitive errors: initial development of the Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS). Int J Cogn Ther. 2011;4(3):297-322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2011.4.3.297

Beck AT. Depression: clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Hoeber Medical Division, Harper & Row. 1967.

Yonkers KA, Simoni MK. Premenstrual disorders. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(1):68-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.045

Halbreich U. The etiology, biology, and evolving pathology of premenstrual syndromes. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003;289(3):55-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4530(03)00097-0

Burns DD. Feeling good: the new mood therapy. New York: William Morrow. 1980.

Rapkin AJ, Mikacich JA. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and severe premenstrual syndrome in adolescents. Paediatr Drugs. 2013;15(3):191-202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-013-0018-4