Review, 2001
How is PMS defined and what is its history?
PMS is not a new condition. Doctors described these symptoms as early as 1847, the term premenstrual tension was coined in 1931, and premenstrual syndrome entered medical use in 1953.
What they did
Reviewed the history, definitions, and management approaches for PMS.
What they found
Symptoms of what we now call PMS have been documented for over a century. A doctor in 1847 described how menstruation in sensitive women is almost always accompanied by mental uneasiness, irritability and sadness. The term premenstrual tension was first used in 1931, and premenstrual syndrome was introduced in 1953.
What it means for you
PMS is not a modern invention or a modern condition. People have recognized and described these symptoms for many decades, though the formal medical names are relatively recent. This review provides background on how medical understanding of PMS developed.
1847
First medical description of symptoms
1931
Term premenstrual tension coined
1953
Term premenstrual syndrome introduced
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: an update on definitions, diagnosis and management
- Authors
- Moira Connolly
- Journal
- Advances in Psychiatric Treatment
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- No intervention tested; definitions and management approaches were reviewed.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1192/apt.7.6.469
Topics
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