---
title: Do the treatments doctors use for premenstrual tension actually work?
description: Doctors have tried many treatments for PMS including hormones, vitamins, and psychotherapy, but the results are mixed and conflicting. Without understanding t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-critical-assessment-of-therapy-for-the-premenstrual-tension-syndrome-1983/
---

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- Do the treatments doctors use for premenstrual tension actually work?

Survey study, 1983

# Do the treatments doctors use for premenstrual tension actually work?

Doctors have tried many treatments for PMS including hormones, vitamins, and psychotherapy, but the results are mixed and conflicting. Without understanding the cause of PMS, there is no single universally accepted effective treatment.

 Early or limited evidence

Review of existing clinical trials

## What they did

Reviewed clinical trials of various therapies for premenstrual tension, including sex steroid hormones, vitamins, prolactin inhibitors, diuretics, psychiatric drugs, and psychotherapy.

## What they found

Clinical trials with natural progesterone, synthetic progestogens, androgens, estrogens, contraceptive pills, vitamin B6, dopamine agonists, diuretics, psychoactive drugs, and psychotherapy have given conflicting results.

## What it means for you

Because the cause of PMS remains unclear, treatments are based on different theories and none has proven universally effective. Future research needs well-controlled, double-blind trials with large numbers of participants keeping daily symptom records.

## About the study

Original title A critical assessment of therapy for the premenstrual tension syndrome Authors Chakmakjian ZH Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1983 Study design Survey study What was tested Review of multiple treatment approaches Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6415280/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6415280/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[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.

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