For prospective longitudinal confirmation of menstrually related mood
changes, the authors selected a 100-mm visual analogue scale for twice-
daily self-rating of mood. The advantages of this method are simplicity;
increased compliance; ease of graphic presentation, allowing evaluation of
severity and relationship to menstruation; and greater uniformity among
studies of menstrually related syndromes. In a preliminary application of
this measure to 20 women with self-diagnosed premenstrual syndrome, eight
(40%) had a mean depression rating during the week before menstruation that
was 30% higher than during the week after cessation of menstruation.Abstract Teaser