Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ): A Full Guide for Researchers and Clinicians
Published
The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) rates 47 menstrual-cycle symptoms in eight scales. Learn its scoring, forms, languages and limitations.
Introduction
The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) is a standardized self-report method for assessing menstrual-cycle symptoms. It measures the presence and severity of 47 symptoms during the menstrual, premenstrual and intermenstrual phases of the most recent cycle, and during the respondent's worst cycle. Rudolf H. Moos of Stanford University published it in 1968, and it has received more than 1,500 citations.
The MDQ groups symptoms into eight scales. This guide explains its structure, scoring, forms and evidence.
Key Features of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ)
Purpose and Use
The MDQ characterizes menstrual-cycle symptoms and compares their severity across cycle phases. The original study also examined how common the symptoms are, their patterns across phases, and how severity relates to background characteristics.
Target Population
The MDQ is intended for menstruating adult women of reproductive age, about 18 to 50.
Structure
The MDQ covers 47 symptoms, grouped by factor analysis into eight scales:
PainConcentrationBehavioral changeAutonomic reactionsWater retentionNegative affectArousalControlThe symptoms include physical discomfort, thinking difficulties, changes in daily functioning and social activities, emotional symptoms, fluid retention, and other physical or sensory experiences. The original study noted that "change in eating habits" could not be consistently assigned to a factor.
Scoring Method
Each symptom is rated on a 6-point scale, from no experience of the symptom to an acute or partially disabling experience.
Phases: ratings are made separately for the menstrual, premenstrual and intermenstrual phases of the most recent cycle, and for the worst cycle.Scale scores: add the symptoms in each of the eight scales, separately for each phase.Standard scores: scale scores can be converted to standardized scores (mean 50, SD 10) to build individual symptom profiles.There is no single overall total score and no diagnostic cut-off.
Administration Format
The MDQ takes about 5–10 minutes and needs no training. It can be given on paper, online, in person or by phone or video.
Applications of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ)
The MDQ supports several uses:
Research: describing menstrual-cycle symptoms and their patterns.Monitoring: tracking symptoms across cycle phases.Screening: Form C can be used for screening.Languages and availability
The MDQ is available in several languages:
English: original articleChinese: translation and validationKorean: cross-cultural validationDutch: factor structureThe MDQ is proprietary and must be purchased from Mind Garden, which offers a student discount for eligible unfunded thesis or dissertation research.
Reliability and Validity
The MDQ is considered moderately reliable and valid. The original study identified eight symptom clusters and gave preliminary evidence of score stability in a small subsample.
Validation studies:
The development of a menstrual distress questionnaire (1968): study linkTranslation and validation of the Chinese MDQ (2024): study linkTranslation and cross-cultural validation of the Korean MDQ (2020): study linkLimitations and Considerations
Keep these points in mind:
Normative sample: the original sample was 839 married, mostly young women, which limits generalizability.Length: rating 47 symptoms across several phases makes it long.Narrow focus and age range: it focuses on menstrual-cycle symptoms in women of reproductive age.Self-report: it relies on women's own ratings of their symptoms.Cost: it is a paid, proprietary instrument.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
The MDQ has several forms:
Form C (Cycle): retrospective assessment of symptoms across the phases of the most recent cycleForm T (Today): symptoms on the day of completionShort Form T: a shorter versionA related questionnaire is the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP).
Additional Resources
The original article: linkFor inquiries, contact Rudolf H. Moos, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, at rmoos@stanford.edu.Browse more obstetrics and gynecology questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire measure?The MDQ measures the presence and severity of 47 menstrual-cycle symptoms during the menstrual, premenstrual and intermenstrual phases, grouped into eight scales such as pain, water retention and negative affect.
How is the MDQ scored?Each symptom is rated on a 6-point scale. Symptoms in each of the eight scales are added separately for each phase, and scale scores can be converted to standard scores with a mean of 50.
What are the MDQ forms?Form C rates symptoms across the phases of the most recent cycle, Form T rates symptoms on the day of completion, and Short Form T is a shorter version.
Is the MDQ free to use?No. The MDQ is proprietary and is sold by Mind Garden, which offers a student discount for eligible unfunded thesis or dissertation research.
A Word from ResRef About the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ)
The MDQ is a self-report instrument developed to characterize menstrual-cycle symptoms and compare their severity across different phases of the cycle. Its original development study identified eight symptom clusters and provided preliminary evidence of score stability in a small subsample. The original normative sample consisted of 839 married, predominantly young women, which limits generalizability to other populations.
References
Moos, R. H. (1968). The development of a menstrual distress questionnaire. Psychosomatic Medicine, 30(6), 853–67. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-196811000-00006Chang, H. H., Hsu, Y. C., Liao, W. L., Lo, C., Chang, C. Y., Liao, C. H., & Su, S. Y. (2024). Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the menstrual distress questionnaire. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 44(1), 2320844. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2024.2320844Lee, Y., & Sohng, K. (2020). Translation and Cross-Cultural Validation of Korean Version of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. Sage Open, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020951550Van Der Ploeg, H. M. (1990). The factor structure of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire--Dutch. Psychological Reports, 66(3 Pt 1), 707–14. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1990.66.3.707