Challenging the Positioning of Premenstrual Change as PMS: The Impact of a Psychological Intervention on Women’s Self-Policing
Abstract
The positioning of the reproductive body as a site of madness or badness functions to marginalize women and to medicalize their distress. Taking Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) as a case example, this paper rejects this pathologization and argues that self-policing practices are associated with the experience and construction of premenstrual change as PMS. Drawing on interviews with 12 British women, it is argued that women's experience of distress or anger premenstrually is connected to self-policing practices of self-silencing, self-surveillance, overresponsibility, self-blame, and self-sacrifice, and that their positioning of this distress as PMS takes place through a process of subjectification. An outline is given of a woman-centred psychological intervention, which identified and challenged these self-policing practices. It aimed to allow women to develop more empowering strategies for reducing or preventing premenstrual distress, build an ethic of care for the self, and no longer blame the body for premenstrual anger or depression. Pre-intervention, the themes which emerged in interviews were: PMS sufferer as split; self-silencing; and overresponsibility. Post-intervention, the themes were: increased equality and agency; resisting pathologization; and resisting self-sacrifice and overresponsibility. The implications for the conceptualization and treatment of PMS and for the positioning of the reproductive body as site of psychiatric disorder are discussed.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There is an absence of a qualitative examination of the subjective experience and mechanisms of change pre-post intervention, with the exception of one study.
“There is also an absence of a qualitative examination of the subjective experience and mechanisms of change pre-post intervention, with the exception of one study [48].”
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 114,103 · see citing works
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Widiger, T. A. (2000) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1037/10518-009 · Cited by 19,767 · see citing works
Positioning: The Discursive Production of Selves
DAVIES, B., & HARRÉ, R. (1990) · Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour · doi:10.1111/j.1468-5914.1990.tb00174.x · Cited by 5,357 · see citing works
THE HORMONAL CAUSES OF PREMENSTRUAL TENSION
Frank, R. T. (1931) · Archives of Neurology And Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archneurpsyc.1931.02230110151009 · Cited by 650 · see citing works
Managing the Monstrous Feminine: Regulating the Reproductive Body
Ussher, J. M. (2006) · doi:10.4324/9780203328422 · Cited by 348 · see citing works
Self-citationFantasies of Femininity: Reframing the Boundaries of Sex
Ussher, J. M. (1997) · Penguin Books · Cited by 277 · see citing works
Self-citationPayer, L. J. (1988) · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Managing the monstrous feminine: regulating the reproductive body
(2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203328422-8 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Burman, E., & Parker, I. (2016) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315403069 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Mauthner, N. S. (1999) · Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/h0086833 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Hunter, M. S., Ussher, J. M., Browne, S. J., Cariss, M., Jelley, R., & Katz, M. (2002) · Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.3109/01674820209074672 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Charting a New Course for Feminist Psychology
(2002) · Praeger eBooks · doi:10.5040/9798400624803 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M. (2004) · Social Theory & Health · doi:10.1057/palgrave.sth.8700032 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Self-citationWomen and the ownership of PMS: the structuring of a psychiatric disorder
(1997) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.34-3587 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Pathology and the Postmodern: Mental Illness as Discourse and Experience
Scheid, T. L., & Fee, D. (2001) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/3089049 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Pathology and the Postmodern: Mental Illness as Discourse and Experience
Fee, D. (2000) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781446217252 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
The role of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in the subjectification of women
Ussher, J. M. (2003) · Journal of Medical Humanities · doi:10.1023/a:1021366001305 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationUssher, J. M. (2003) · Journal of Family Therapy · doi:10.1111/1467-6427.00257 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citationConstructions of femininity and experiences of menstrual distress
Cosgrove, L., & Riddle, B. (2003) · Women & Health · doi:10.1300/j013v38n03_04 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Dalton, K. (1968) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(68)92684-6 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M., Hunter, M., & Cariss, M. (2002) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.340 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Emergence of Premenstrual Syndrome as a Social Problem
Rittenhouse, C. A. (1991) · Social Problems · doi:10.2307/800607 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoria
Steiner, M. S., & Born, L. (2000) · CNS Drugs · doi:10.2165/00023210-200013040-00005 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Woman's Relationship with Herself
O'Grady, H. (2005) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203341988 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Kuczmierczyk, A. R., & Adams, H. E. (1986) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3999(86)90081-4 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Psychological Distress and Postmodern Thought
Burr, V., & Butt, T. (2000) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781446217252.n9 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Premenstrual Syndrome: How Marital Satisfaction and Role Choice Affect Symptom Severity
(1990) · Social Work · doi:10.1093/sw/35.4.351 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
THE PROBLEMATIC OF “EXPERIENCE”
Markens, S. (1996) · Gender & Society · doi:10.1177/089124396010001004 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Women's experience of premenstrual syndrome: a case of silencing the self
Perz, J., & Ussher, J. M. (2006) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646830600973883 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M. (2002) · Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/casp.685 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Implicit Relation of Psychology and Law: Women and Syndrome Evidence
Raitt, F. E., & Zeedyk, M. S. (2000) · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M. (1996) · Annual Review of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/10532528.1996.10559914 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationUssher, J. M., & Wilding, J. M. (1991) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(91)90286-l · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citationAn exploration of methodological pluralism in nursing research
Baker, C., Norton, S. A., YOUNG, P. K., & Ward, S. E. (1998) · Research in Nursing & Health · doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199812)21:6 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Performance tests in different phases of the menstrual cycle
Slade, P., & Jenner, F. A. (1980) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3999(80)90068-9 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Sabin, R., & Slade, P. (1999) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646839908404603 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Nash, H. C., & Chrisler, J. C. (1997) · Psychology of Women Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00115.x · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Prevalence and Predictors of Cyclic and Noncyclic Affective Change
Hardie, E. A. (1997) · Psychology of Women Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00114.x · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M., & Wilding, J. M. (1992) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646839208403941 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Emergence of Premenstrual Syndrome as a Social Problem
Rittenhouse, C. A. (1991) · Social Problems · doi:10.1525/sp.1991.38.3.03a00070 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
The Good Body: Asceticism in Contemporary Culture
Zager, R. P. (1995) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1995.03530120085051 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Rose, R. M., & Abplanalp, J. M. (1983) · Hospital Practice · doi:10.1080/21548331.1983.11702572 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Donovan, J. M. (2004) · UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Are We Medicalizing Women’s Misery? A Critical Review of Women’s Higher Rates of Reported Depression
Ussher, J. M. (2010) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959353509350213 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Madness of Women: Myth and Experience
Ussher, J. M. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-16-7255-2_34 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Self-citationUssher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175068 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citationWomen's experiences of sexual embodiment in the context of cancer
Parton, C. (2013) · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2008) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959353507084954 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Madness of Women: Myth and Experience
Ussher, J. M. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4106-3_34-1 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Self-citationUssher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-0614-7_19 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Self-citationIs Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Really a Disorder?
Browne, T. K. (2014) · Journal of Bioethical Inquiry · doi:10.1007/s11673-014-9567-7 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Kues, J. N., Janda, C., Kleinstäuber, M., & Weise, C. (2014) · Trials · doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-472 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Narrative Financial Therapy: Integrating a Financial Planning Approach with Therapeutic Theory
McCoy, M. A., Ross, D. B., & Goetz, J. (2013) · Journal of Financial Therapy · doi:10.4148/1944-9771.1052 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Stress and Premenstrual Symptoms in Reproductive-Aged Women
Lee, Y., & Im, E. (2015) · Health Care For Women International · doi:10.1080/07399332.2015.1049352 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2020) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959353519900196 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationVariance in Mood Symptoms Across Menstrual Cycles: Implications for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Lorenz, T. K., Gesselman, A. N., & Vitzthum, V. J. (2017) · Women s Reproductive Health · doi:10.1080/23293691.2017.1326248 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Chrisler, J. C., Gorman, J. A., & Streckfuss, L. (2014) · Women s Reproductive Health · doi:10.1080/23293691.2014.966597 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
(2007) · The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Self-citationUssher, J. M., Perz, J., & May, E. M. (2014) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/0959353514539650 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationLee, Y., & Im, E. (2016) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.13061 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
King, M., Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2014) · Women s Reproductive Health · doi:10.1080/23293691.2014.901796 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Chapter 20 Disruption of the Silenced Self: The Case of Premenstrual Syndrome
Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2010) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195398090.003.0022 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationBeyond abjection: Exploring narratives after premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Buys, M. E. (2024) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/09593535231223915 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Psychosocial Factors Associated with Premenstrual Distress
Rosvall, I., & Ekholm, S. (2016) · Women s Reproductive Health · doi:10.1080/23293691.2016.1237715 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Connectedness, Communication, and Reciprocity in Lesbian Relationships
Perz, J., & Ussher, J. M. (2009) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326789.003.0010 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationKaiser, G., Schormann, A., Kues, J. N., & Weise, C. (2018) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000489499 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Han, J., Kim, S., Kim, S. H., & Lee, S. K. (2017) · Korean journal of women health nursing/Yeoseong geon'gang ganho hag'hoeji/Yeoseong geon-gang ganho hakoeji · doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.1.11 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Psychotherapy Modalities for Premenstrual Change: A Systematic Review
Buys, M. E. (2025) · Women & Therapy · doi:10.1080/02703149.2025.2534636 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cutting Knowledge: The Pathologization of Self-Injury in Correctional Discourse
Rotenberg, C. (2014) · doi:10.22215/etd/2014-10126 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Ramya, K., & Manimozhi, K. (2023) · Health and population. Perspectives and issues · doi:10.5005/hppi-11041-46404
Buys, M. E. (2025) · Australian Journal of Primary Health · doi:10.1071/py25133 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Buys, M. E., Peel, R., & Buiten, D. (2026) · Feminism & Psychology · doi:10.1177/09593535261464231
Disabled Sportswomen’s Experiences of Menstruation
Miller, B., & Pullen, E. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-8357-7_17
SCMS, C., & Sahdev, S. L. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10798157/v1
- Authors
- Ussher, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Western Sydney University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Ussher, Jane M.
- ORCID
- Ussher, Jane M.
- Venue
- Qualitative Research in Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-03-07
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 33-44
- ISSN
- 1478-0887 (ISSN-L)
- 1478-0895
- OpenAlex
- W2085560644
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Qualitative Research in Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University College London
- University of Western Sydney
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
- Keywords
- premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual distress, self-policing, medicalization, self-silencing, self-surveillance, self-blame, self-sacrifice, subjectification, care ethics, women's agency, reproductive body
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
