Apr 08, 2025
Key Components of Psychological Interventions for improving outcomes for women with dysmenorrhea: A scoping review
- Cosy Cheung1
- 1The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Protocol Citation: Cosy Cheung 2025. Key Components of Psychological Interventions for improving outcomes for women with dysmenorrhea: A scoping review. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l268dxv1y/v1
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License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: April 03, 2025
Last Modified: April 08, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 126119
Keywords: dysmenorrhea, psychological intervention, pain, anxiety, depression, quality of life
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Abstract
Dysmenorrhea, characterized by painful menstrual cramps of uterine origin, represents a prevalent gynecological condition associated with substantial morbidity, significantly impacting women's quality of life and productivity. Several reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the effectiveness of psychological interventions in managing dysmenorrhea, and the evidence suggests that psychological interventions could hold promise in alleviating pain and improving overall well-being in women with
dysmenorrhea. Despite growing recognition of the potential benefits of psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the key components and mechanisms of action
that contribute to their effectiveness. The aim of the scoping review is to examine the existing literature on psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea, with a specific focus on identifying the key components and mechanisms of action associated with improved outcomes. We expected that key components could be identified, including specific therapeutic techniques, participant engagement strategies, and the role of psychological support in alleviating symptoms.
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Guidelines
A scoping review will be conducted to synthesize the existing literature on psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, which includes a systematic search strategy, a rigorous screening process, and a comprehensive data extraction and synthesis approach.
Materials
Method
Study
Design
A scoping
review will be conducted to synthesize the existing literature on psychological
interventions for dysmenorrhea. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs
Institute methodology for scoping reviews, which includes a systematic search
strategy, a rigorous screening process, and a comprehensive data extraction and
synthesis approach (Tricco et al., 2018).
Inclusion criteria
Female receiving psychological interventions
for improving dysmenorrhea
Exclusion criteria
Non-psychological interventions
investigation
Procedure
Relevant
studies will be identified through a comprehensive search of electronic
databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, using
predefined search terms related to dysmenorrhea, psychological interventions,
and key components.
Outcome
measures
The
outcome of interest will be the identification of key components of
psychological interventions associated with improved outcomes for women with
dysmenorrhea, including pain reduction, psychological well-being, and overall
quality of life.
⒈
What specific components of psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive
restructuring, relaxation techniques, mindfulness training) are most frequently
associated with significant pain reduction in women with dysmenorrhea?
⒉
Which key components of psychological interventions demonstrate the
strongest association with improvements in psychological well-being and overall
quality of life for women experiencing dysmenorrhea?
Duration
The
extraction of the existing dataset may take 1 year, followed by 2 years of data
analysis.
Statistics
Statistical
analysis will be performed using the Statistical Packages of Social Sciences
for Windows (SPSS, Inc). Data will be presented by percentage, mean and
standard deviation, and median where appropriate. Comparisons between groups
will be carried out by Student T test for continuous variables and
Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test for categorical data. Two-tailed P<0.05 will
be considered significant.
Introduction
Dysmenorrhea,
characterized by painful menstrual cramps of uterine origin, represents a prevalent gynecological condition associated with substantial morbidity, significantly impacting women's quality of life and productivity (Proctor et al., 2007). For many, the condition extend beyond mere physical discomfort, often precipitating emotional distress, reduced academic performance, and disruption of daily activities (BT et al., 2017; Dawood, 2006). The conventional management strategies for dysmenorrhea frequently encompass pharmacological interventions, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal contraceptives; however, these approaches may be associated with adverse side effects and may not be suitable or effective for all women (Direkvand‐Moghadam & Khosravi, 2012). In addition, the pharmacological interventions have potential side effects, and some women prefer alternate treatment options, such as psychological interventions, which may offer a more holistic approach to managing dysmenorrhea and its associated symptoms.
Several reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the effectiveness of psychological interventions in managing dysmenorrhea, and the evidence suggests that approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and relaxation techniques may hold promise in alleviating pain, reducing psychological distress, and improving overall well-being in women with dysmenorrhea (Rodrigues et al., 2021). Despite growing recognition of the potential benefits of psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the key components and mechanisms of action that contribute to their effectiveness. This knowledge gap impedes the development of targeted and optimized psychological interventions tailored to the specific needs and preferences of women experiencing dysmenorrhea (Lefebvre et al., 2005). A more in-depth understanding of the active ingredients and critical elements of psychological interventions is needed to maximize their impact and ensure their widespread implementation in clinical practice. Consequently, a scoping review is imperative to map the existing evidence base, identify key concepts and components, and discern knowledge gaps in this field.
The aim of the scoping review is to examine the existing literature on psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea, with a specific focus on identifying the key components and mechanisms of action associated with improved outcomes.
Objectives
1. To examine the existing literature on psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea
2. To identify the key components and mechanisms of action associated with improved outcomes
Study Design
A scoping review will be conducted to synthesize the existing literature on psychological interventions for dysmenorrhea. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, which includes a systematic search strategy, a rigorous screening process, and a comprehensive data extraction and synthesis approach (Tricco et al., 2018).
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Female receiving psychological interventions for improving dysmenorrhea
Exclusion criteria
Non-psychological interventions investigation
Procedure
Relevant studies will be identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, using predefined search terms related to dysmenorrhea, psychological interventions, and key components.
Outcome Measure
The outcome of interest will be the identification of key components of psychological interventions associated with improved outcomes for women with dysmenorrhea, including pain reduction, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life.
⒈ What specific components of psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, mindfulness training) are most frequently associated with significant pain reduction in women with dysmenorrhea?
⒉ Which key components of psychological interventions demonstrate the strongest association with improvements in psychological well-being and overall quality of life for women experiencing dysmenorrhea?
Statistics
Statistical analysis will be performed using the Statistical Packages of Social Sciences for Windows (SPSS, Inc). Data will be presented by percentage, mean and standard deviation, and median where appropriate. Comparisons between groups will be carried out by Student T test for continuous variables and Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test for categorical data. Two-tailed P<0.05 will be considered significant.
Ethics consideration
This scoping review poses minimal ethical concerns, as it involves the synthesis of existing, publicly available data from published studies. No primary data will be collected, and there will be no direct contact with patients or members of the public.
This study is in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
References
BT, D., Afessa, N., Temesgen, M. M., YW, S., Kassaye, M., Sieru, S., Gizachew, S., & Ketsela, K. (2017). Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Effects on School Performance: A Crosssectional Study. In Journal of Women s Health Care (Vol. 6, Issue 2). OMICS Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0420.1000361
Dawood, M. Y. (2006). Primary Dysmenorrhea [Review of Primary Dysmenorrhea]. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 108(2), 428. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000230214.26638.0c
Direkvand‐Moghadam, A., & Khosravi, A. (2012). The impact of a novel herbal Shirazi Thymus Vulgaris on primary dysmenorrhea in comparison to the classical chemical Ibuprofen. In PubMed (Vol. 17, Issue 7, p. 668). National Institutes of Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23798928
Lefebvre, G., Pinsonneault, O., Antao, V., Black, A., Burnett, M., Feldman, K., Lea, R. H., & Robert, M. (2005). Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guideline. In Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (Vol. 27, Issue 12). https://doi.org/10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30395-4
Proctor, M., Murphy, P. A., Pattison, H., Suckling, J. A., & Farquhar, C. (2007). Behavioural interventions for dysmenorrhoea [Review of Behavioural interventions for dysmenorrhoea]. Cochrane Library, 2011(10). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd002248.pub3
Rodrigues, J. C., Ávila, M. A., & Driusso, P. (2021). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for women with primary dysmenorrhea: Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial with economic evaluation. In PLoS ONE (Vol. 16, Issue 5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250111
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O’Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., … Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467. https://doi.org/10.7326/m18-0850
Protocol references
BT, D., Afessa, N., Temesgen, M. M., YW, S., Kassaye, M., Sieru, S.,
Gizachew, S., & Ketsela, K. (2017). Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its
Effects on School Performance: A Crosssectional Study. In Journal of Women s
Health Care (Vol. 6, Issue 2). OMICS Publishing Group.
https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0420.1000361
Dawood, M. Y. (2006). Primary Dysmenorrhea [Review of Primary
Dysmenorrhea]. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 108(2), 428. Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000230214.26638.0c
Direkvand‐Moghadam, A., & Khosravi, A. (2012). The impact of a
novel herbal Shirazi Thymus Vulgaris on primary dysmenorrhea in comparison to
the classical chemical Ibuprofen. In PubMed (Vol. 17, Issue 7, p. 668).
National Institutes of Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23798928
Lefebvre, G., Pinsonneault, O., Antao, V., Black, A., Burnett, M.,
Feldman, K., Lea, R. H., & Robert, M. (2005). Primary Dysmenorrhea
Consensus Guideline. In Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (Vol. 27,
Issue 12). https://doi.org/10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30395-4
Proctor, M., Murphy, P. A., Pattison, H., Suckling, J. A., &
Farquhar, C. (2007). Behavioural interventions for dysmenorrhoea [Review of
Behavioural interventions for dysmenorrhoea]. Cochrane Library, 2011(10).
Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd002248.pub3
Rodrigues, J. C., Ávila, M. A., & Driusso, P. (2021).
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for women with primary
dysmenorrhea: Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial with
economic evaluation. In PLoS ONE (Vol. 16, Issue 5).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250111
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O’Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H.,
Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S.,
Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A.,
Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., … Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA Extension for
Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Annals of Internal
Medicine, 169(7), 467. https://doi.org/10.7326/m18-0850
Acknowledgements
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