---
title: What causes PMS and what is the best treatment? | Niyora
description: Multiple theories explain PMS including psychological, nutritional, and hormonal causes, but none are proven. No definitive treatment exists. Treatment must b
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/review-of-the-etiology-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1985/
---

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- What causes PMS and what is the best treatment?

Review, 1985

# What causes PMS and what is the best treatment?

Multiple theories explain PMS including psychological, nutritional, and hormonal causes, but none are proven. No definitive treatment exists. Treatment must be individualized based on clinical response.

 Early or limited evidence

General review of PMS research

## What they did

This review article summarizes proposed causes of PMS and evaluates various treatment approaches from published studies.

## What they found

PMS causes significant health problems in many women. Suggested causes include psychological abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and changes in opioid peptides. For each proposed cause, at least one drug has been investigated. However, many clinical studies are uncontrolled, which is a major problem for a disorder with high placebo response rates.

## What it means for you

Despite many studies, we lack clear understanding of what causes PMS or proven treatments. Many studies are poorly designed with no control groups, making it impossible to know what actually works versus placebo effect. This is a major gap in medical knowledge that future research needs to address.

## About the study

Original title Review of the etiology and treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors True BL, Goodner SM, Burns EA Journal Drug intelligence & clinical pharmacy Year 1985 Study design Review What was tested Multiple proposed treatments reviewed Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/106002808501901003](https://doi.org/10.1177/106002808501901003)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2007

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Review, 2002

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Study, 1997

What medications work best for treating PMS?

Review, 2006

What treatments work for premenstrual disorders?

Review, 2003

What role do hormones play in PMS and how should we treat it?

Review, 1993

What are the medication options for treating PMS?

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