Effectiveness of problem solving therapy in reducing depression and premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome

Introduction: About 90 percent of women experience one of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
(PMS) symptoms. PMS is identified with periodic relapse of a combination of physical,
psychological and/or troublesome changes that occur during the luteal phase of
menstruation cycle. One of psychological symptoms is depression. These symptoms
influence on the quality of women relationships in family, workplace and society.
Therefore, this research has done to study the effect of problem-solving treatment on
reducing depression and premenstrual symptoms in girls with premenstrual syndrome.
Methods: Research design was pretest-posttest with the control group. Target population
was all students of Tehran Payam Noor University from which 30 individuals with
medium depression as well as with PMS were selected as sample through aimed random
sampling and assigned randomly in two control and experimental groups. Research
instruments were Beck Depression Inventory and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome Diagnosis
Questionnaire. Problem-solving treatment was trained in the experimental group during 6
sessions, one hour per every week.
Results: Findings showed that problem-solving treatment influenced on reducing
depression and premenstrual symptoms (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Because of the short duration of treatment and ease of training, problemsolving
skill can lead to promoting individual mental health level. Therefore, problemsolving
treatment is recommended by itself or along with pharmacotherapy in individuals,
that pharmacotherapy is not considered or is insufficient.