The Prevalence of Menstrual Disorders in Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

The prevalence of common menstrual disorders was investigated in three groups of psychiatric patients suffering from (a) neurosis, (b) affective disorders, (c) schizophrenia. A standardized questionnaire concerned with menstrual symptoms, together with the Maudsley Personality Inventory and the Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale, was completed by each patient; the results obtained from the patients were compared with data obtained from a random sample of women from the general population. The main findings were: 1. The age of the menarche was normal but all psychiatric groups were excessively disturbed by its occurrence. 2. Menstrual pain: neurotics experienced much more, patients with affective disorders the same, and schizophrenic patients less than their control subjects. 3. Menstrual irritability, depression, nervousness, anxiety, tenseness: the prevalence of these symptoms was increased in neurosis, normal in affective disorders (except for menstrual depression), and decreased in schizophrenic patients. 4. Menstrual headaches, swelling, irregularity of periods: neurotic patients had more headaches and schizophrenic patients more irregularity than normal. 5. Twenty-five per cent. of neurotic patients had consulted a doctor about their periods; 20 per cent. of these patients had had a dilatation and curettage and a tonsillectomy; 25 per cent. had had an appendicectomy. 6. All patients had an increased prevalence of sexual difficulties; this was especially high in the neurotics. Sexual difficulties were significantly correlated with menstrual pain and irritability. 7. Neurotic patients and patients with affective disorders had high Neuroticism scores and low Extraversion scores on the Maudsley Personality Inventory; all patients scored significantly low on Validity and high on Stability on the Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale. 8. The degree of menstrual pain, irritability and irregularity was found to be correlated with Neuroticism irrespective of diagnostic category; the degree of menstrual irritability was correlated with Validity.