Review, 1995
What causes premenstrual problems and how should we think about them?
Premenstrual problems result from three factors: menstruation itself, hormonal changes affecting brain chemistry (particularly serotonin), and individual vulnerability characteristics. This shifts away from calling all these problems PMS.
What they did
Review examining evidence about premenstrual syndrome and proposing a three-factor model to better explain premenstrual problems. The authors evaluated the traditional PMS concept and presented evidence linking mood changes to serotonin activity in the brain.
What they found
Premenstrual problems involve three factors: menstruation itself, hormonal cycling linked to changes in serotonin activity in the brain, and individual vulnerability characteristics unrelated to the cycle. Food cravings may be a marker of serotonin-related changes. The mood changes that occur around menstruation are linked to cycle-related alterations in serotonergic activity in the brain.
What it means for you
Premenstrual problems are more complex than the traditional PMS diagnosis suggests. They involve the menstrual cycle plus how each woman's brain and body respond to hormonal changes. Understanding these problems may help explain why depression is more common in women.
Three factors
menstruation, hormonal timing, vulnerability
Serotonin
brain chemical linked to mood changes
Food cravings
may mark serotonin changes
About the study
- Original title
- The menstrual cycle and the well being of women
- Authors
- Bancroft J
- Journal
- Social science & medicine (1982)
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None (review article)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00045-9
Topics
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