Review, 2001
What is the best treatment approach for PMS and PMDD?
About 5 percent of women have premenstrual symptoms severe enough to affect their daily lives. Start with lifestyle changes, then serotonin-based antidepressants if needed, preferably taken during just the luteal phase.
What they did
Review of management approaches for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD.
What they found
About 5 percent of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual symptoms that markedly influence work, social activities, or relationships. Prospective charting of symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles is required for accurate diagnosis. The optimal treatment plan begins with lifestyle modifications, followed by pharmacotherapy. Low-dose serotonin reuptake inhibitors with intermittent or continuous administration have excellent efficacy with minimal side effects. Modification of the menstrual cycle should be considered only after all other treatment options have failed.
What it means for you
Severe premenstrual symptoms affect about 1 in 20 women. Treatment should start simple and intensify if needed. Taking serotonin antidepressants just during the luteal phase works well with fewer side effects than daily use. Tracking symptoms for two cycles helps confirm the diagnosis.
5%
Percentage of women with severe premenstrual symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Current management of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Born L, Steiner M
- Journal
- Current psychiatry reports
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Lifestyle modifications, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, menstrual cycle modification
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s11920-001-0039-5
Topics
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