The effects of rational-emotive therapy and relaxation training on premenstrual syndrome: A preliminary study

Abstract

Six female subjects who were between 31 and 44 years of age attended a premenstrual syndrome (PMS) clinic and participated in a group therapy program designed to alleviate their premenstrual symptoms. Rational-emotive therapy (RET) and relaxation training were offered in addition to ongoing progesterone treatment in an effort to alleviate severe psychological symptoms thought to be occasioned by the hormonal changes occurring during the premenstrual week. Pre-treatment assessments were carried out using Moos' Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, Broadbent's Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire. Additionally, levels of self-reported psychological and physical menstrual distress symptoms were estimated by the subjects at each premenstruum throughout the ten-week therapy program. At the end of the ten week therapy program hormone treatment was discontinued. Significant pre-test to post-test differences were found in a number of psychological and physical symptoms of menstrual distress, in cognitive functioning and neuroticism, following the combined group treatment. Improvements in psychological functioning during premenstruum were observed at a one-year follow-up. RET and relaxation together with hormonal therapy produced a substantial reduction in PMS symptoms in comparison with drug treatment alone.

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Depression and Anxiety in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome

“…Morse et al reported that CBT with 10 weekly 1-hour group sessions reduced the symptoms of PMS by 5 weeks after test [43]. Kirkby compared 48 women with PMS in a CBT (six weekly 10-hour group sessions) or control (waitlist) group.…”

Rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and medication in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial, posttreatment outcomes, and six‐month follow‐up

“…Rational emotive behavior therapy has usually fared well compared to minimal treatment controls and alternative interventions in the treatment of depression (Engels, Garnefsky, & Diekstra, 1993;Lyons & Woods, 1991). It has typically proven superior to no treatment or waiting list controls in the treatment of depression in college populations (Fosterling, 1985), life problems-related depression in the normal population (i.e., divorce-related depression; Malouff, Lanyon, & Schutte, 1988), depressive symptoms in various subclinical and clinical contexts (depression in individuals with the following other diagnoses: obsessive-compulsive disorder; Emmelkamp, Visser, & Hoekstra, 1988;conduct disorder;Fava, Bless, Otto, Pava, & Rosenbaum, 1994;Morse, Bernard, & Dennerstein, 1989; self-esteem-related depression; Warren, McLellarn, & Ponzoha, 1988), Christian depressed clients (Johnson, & Ridley, 1992;Johnson, Devries, & Ridley, 1994), multisymptomatic patients (Lipsky, Kassinove, & Miller, 1980), retired clients (Caraway & Hayslip, 1985), and clinical depression (Kelly, 1982). Taken as a whole, these findings appear to provide a rather impressive support for the efficacy of REBT in the treatment of depression.…”

Cognitive‐behavioral treatment of premenstrual syndrome and chronic gynecologic pain

“…Neither active treatment was found to be superior to placebo, but one symptom ("arguing with others") showed a significant reduction in the behavioral treatment group at 6 month follow-up, possibly suggesting some benefit from anger management strategies. Morse et al (1989) conducted a pilot study evaluating the application of rational-emotive therapy to 11 PMS sufferers already receiving progesterone therapy and reported an enhanced effect with the combined treatments and significant reductions in MDQ symptom clusters, such as concentration and negative affect. This same group (Morse et al, 1991) then conducted a study comparing hormone therapy, ten sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and home practice relaxation training with 42 subjects randomly assigned to one of the three treatment conditions.…”