Premenstrual syndromes.

Premenstrual syndrome research has made a great deal of progress since 1983 when the criteria for the diagnosis were clearly defined. Confirming the diagnosis prospectively and ruling out other disorders was a major methodologic advance. The DSM-IV criteria for PMDD now help us identify and classify women who have severe psychologic symptoms during the premenstruum. Although we do not have a definitive cause for PMDD, the consensus is that it …