Randomised trial, 1990
What is PMS and how should doctors diagnose it?
PMS is a disorder with symptoms only during the luteal phase, with at least one week each cycle completely symptom-free. Symptoms must interfere significantly with normal life. Up to 50% of people who think they have PMS actually have depression instead.
What they did
This clinical review describes how to diagnose PMS and summarizes available treatments based on double-blind placebo-controlled studies.
What they found
PMS diagnosis requires prospective symptom tracking showing symptoms only in the luteal phase and at least one symptom-free week in the follicular phase. Symptoms must be severe enough to disrupt normal function. Most patients with suspected PMS actually have a depressive disorder. Laboratory tests are not helpful for diagnosis. Treatment varies by symptom type.
What it means for you
The key takeaway is that many people are misdiagnosed. Proper diagnosis requires careful tracking. This is a summary of existing knowledge rather than a new study.
50
Percentage of suspected PMS patients who actually have depression
1
Minimum weeks symptom-free in follicular phase for PMS diagnosis
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: an update for the clinician
- Authors
- Chihal HJ
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 50
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0889-8545(21)00224-2
Topics
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