Differences in experience of perimenstrual symptoms between non-drug using women and women with history of cocaine abuse

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine differences in perimenstrual symptoms between non-drug using women and women with history of cocaine abuse. Keye's (1988) model for premenstrual syndrome and concepts from General Systems Theory (Von Bertalanffy, 1968) were used as an organizing framework to consider interaction of various aspects of the individual with stressors from the environment, including cocaine abuse and perimenstrual symptoms.

One hundred thirty women ware selected for participation in the study. Sixty-five women were in residential treatment for cocaine abuse and sixty-five women sought health care from a private gynecologist during data collection. Data ware collected by participant completion of a Demographic Data Sheet and the "Menstrual Distress Questionnaire" (MDQ) designed by Moos (1968).

Women with history of cocaine abuse experienced 46 of 47 perimenstrual symptoms more frequently than their counterparts. The mean number of symptoms for women with history of cocaine abuse was 22.41 symptoms with a standard deviation of 13.18. Non-drug using women had a mean of 16.42 symptoms with a standard deviation of 9.47. A Welch's approximate t-test for independent samples $(t=2.94$; $df=112$; $p=.004)$ revealed statistical significance. Chi-square statistical analyses revealed which sixteen of the 47 perimenstrual symptoms were experienced more frequently by women with history of cocaine abuse $(p\le .05).$ These symptoms included those that are biological, psychological, and sociocultural.

Welch's approximate t-test for independent samples revealed that women with history of cocaine abuse experienced more severe perimenstrual symptoms $(t=4.12$; $df=110$; $p=.000).$ The mean severity score for women with history of cocaine abuse was 49.77 $(S.D=33.32)$ and for non-drug using women the mean several score was 28.56 $(S.D.=22.63).$