Comparison of the Effects of Relaxation and Vitamin B6 on Emotional and Physical Symptoms in Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

<span class="hps"><span>Background:</span></span> Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is consisted of multiple psychological and emotional symptoms. This disorder possesses adverse effects on women' economic, social, familial and professional issues, therefore various medical therapies have been suggested, thus all have own side effects. <br/>Aim: To compare the effects of relaxation and vitamin B6 on emotional and physical symptoms of PMS. <br/>Method: This is a randomized clinical trial study with pre- and post-test design. The study was conducted on 150 girls living in public dormitory whom were randomly divided into three groups. The relaxation group trained in two sessions and then one week before menstruation, the taught techniques were carried out on a daily basis. The second group received 80mg vitamin B6 tablets QD for one week before menstruation and then three times a week for one cycle. The third group received no intervention as control group. Each day, data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and where analyzed using SPSS version 14 with paired T and ANOVA tests. <br/>Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.6±1.5 and their average weight was 54.1± 6.6. The mean scores of psychological symptoms after the interventionwere 1.2± 0.2 in vitamin B6 group, 0.3± 0.7 in relaxation group, and 1.6 ± 0.4 in the control group (p<0.001). Vitamin B6 and relaxation were both effective in reducing the psychological symptoms and this change was more prominent in the psychiatric symptoms in the relaxation group. The mean score of physical symptoms before the intervention, showed significant difference among the groups (p<0.01); and after the intervention it was 0.8±0.2 in vitamin B6, 1.6±0.3 in the relaxation group, and 1.0±0.5 in the control group (P<0.001). Paired t-test showed significant difference in the scores before and after the intervention, within the vitamin B6 group (p<0.001); just vitamin B6 was effective in reduction of the physical symptoms of PMS. <br/>Conclusion: Relaxation and vitamin B6 both are effective in reducing the psychological symptoms of PMS; but vitamin B6 is more efficient in alleviating of the physical symptoms compared with relaxation.