Investigation of the effects of relaxation training on disability, activity performance, mental state and quality of life in premenstrual dysphoric disorder

This study was planned to investigate the effect of relaxation training on premenstrual symptoms, disability, occupational performance, mental status and quality of life in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In the study completed by sixty-three women with PMDD, 33 randomly not received any training, while the other 30 received relaxation training 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The premenstrual symptoms of the participants were evaluated with the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool, disability with the Sheehan Disability Scale, occupational performance with the Canadian Occupational Performance Scale, mental status with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and quality of life with the Nottingham Health Profile, and their first and last values were compared. As a result, a significant improvement in the relaxation group was observed in the premenstrual symptoms (p=0.001), disability (p=0.001), in areas of "household management (p=0.001, p=0.001), school (p=0.014, p=0.024), personal care (p=0.026, p=0.026), quiet recreation (p=0.023, p=0.024), active recreation (p=0.014, p=0.016), socialization (p=0.015, p=0.011)" in terms of occupational performance and occupational satisfaction, respectively, and also in mental status (p=0.001) and quality of life (p=0.001). There was worsened in the control group in areas of active recreation in the occupational performance (p=0.011) and occupational satisfaction (p=0.014) and in the parameters of "emotional reactions (p=0.049), physical activity (p=0.026), total (p=0.023)" in the quality of life while no significant difference was found in all other parameters in the study. In the light of these findings, it is thought that it would be beneficial to include relaxation training in the treatment of premenstrual disorder because of its positive effects. Despite these, there is a need for further studies which a long-term follow-up of relaxation training.