Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is the most severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). It impacts the lives and productivity of women worldwide. The literature review found eight studies conducted on PMS and menstruation in Malaysia. However, none of these studies focused on PMDD and reported the utilization of psychometrically valid and reliable tools in assessing it. One of the common measures used to assess PMDD is Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). Items in DRSP are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition. Currently, there are two published studies on the validation of DRSP and its psychometric properties which will be discussed in this paper. The review shows that an ongoing adaptation and validation study of DRSP among Malaysian is being conducted. This will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding PMDD in local settings.
The current study aims to investigate the validated measures used to assess anxiety in Malaysia through a systematic review. The PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases, and 28 local journals were used to search for published papers in this particular area. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria and reviewed. The results showed that majority of the studies have validated self-report inventories, rather than structured clinical interviews. The preferred measures validated were Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and General Health Questionnaire-12 item. The psychometric properties of the validated measures were also reported in this review. In general, the measures have a wide range of reliability, validity, and factor structures. However, not all of the studies adhere to the standard procedures for adapting Western-based measure. The limitations of the studies under review were also being highlighted.