O'Neil M K, Lancee W J, Freeman S J
Can J Psychiatry. 1984 Aug;29(5):373-8. doi: 10.1177/070674378402900502.
This paper examines fluctuations in mood and symptoms associated with psychological distress during the phases of the menstrual cycle in two samples of university women. The first (Study I) sample of women (N = 162) was randomly selected from the University population. The second sample (Study II) was women (N = 138) who attended a psychiatric clinic. The subjects completed a questionnaire which included measures of depression, anxiety and general psychological distress. Information about the menstrual cycle and contraceptive pills was elicited from the subjects who were unaware that affect during the menstrual cycle was being studied. In study I there were no significant differences in depression, anxiety or psychological distress between phases of the cycle. The results of study II indicated that even in a group of women with emotional problems, it was not possible to demonstrate an increase in the average severity of mood disturbance or psychological distress during any phase of the menstrual cycle. It was concluded that in general, university women between the ages of 18-30 who are mostly single, nulliparous, with or without significant psychopathology, seeking or not seeking psychiatric help do not experience significant or disruptive fluctuations in mood and symptoms of psychological distress during the phases of the menstrual cycle. Women who are afflicted with distressing and incapacitating cyclical fluctuations are best studied as a vulnerable subgroup.
本文考察了两组大学女生样本在月经周期各阶段与心理困扰相关的情绪及症状波动情况。第一组样本（研究一）的女性（N = 162）是从大学人群中随机抽取的。第二组样本（研究二）是在一家精神科诊所就诊的女性（N = 138）。研究对象完成了一份问卷，其中包括抑郁、焦虑及一般心理困扰的测量。从研究对象那里获取了有关月经周期及避孕药的信息，而这些研究对象并不知道正在研究月经周期中的情绪影响。在研究一中，月经周期各阶段之间在抑郁、焦虑或心理困扰方面没有显著差异。研究二的结果表明，即使在一组有情绪问题的女性中，也无法证明在月经周期的任何阶段情绪紊乱或心理困扰的平均严重程度有所增加。得出的结论是，总体而言，年龄在18至30岁之间、大多单身、未生育、有无明显精神病理学问题、寻求或未寻求精神科帮助的大学女生，在月经周期各阶段不会经历明显或具有破坏性的情绪及心理困扰症状波动。患有令人苦恼且使人丧失能力的周期性波动的女性，最好作为一个脆弱亚组来进行研究。
