Skip to content

Review, 1988

Can PMS be used as a legal defense in court?

No, the PMS legal defense has been unsuccessful in the United States and is unlikely to succeed in the future.

Early or limited evidence This is a legal review article, not a medical study

What they did

This is a review article that examines arguments for and against using PMS as a complete or partial legal defense in the United States, including in insanity defense, diminished capacity defense, and as a mitigating factor in sentencing.

What they found

The PMS legal defense has been unsuccessful in United States courts and is unlikely to succeed in the future.

What it means for you

PMS should be studied and treated by medical professionals, not used as a legal defense. This was a legal review, not medical research on PMS itself.

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual syndrome: a view from the bench
Authors
Benedek EP
Journal
The Journal of clinical psychiatry
Year
1988
Study design
Review

Topics