Review, 1993
Is the PMS diagnosis scientifically valid and clinically useful?
The authors argue the traditional PMS diagnosis is flawed because there is no agreed definition, many women seeking help do not fit diagnostic criteria, and there is no consensus on treatment. They propose a three-factor model instead.
What they did
Critical review of the PMS concept, diagnostic definitions, proposed treatments, and theories about causes. The authors examined the relationship between premenstrual mood changes and major depression.
What they found
There is no consensus definition of PMS, so many women seeking help are excluded from diagnosis. There is no agreement on how to treat these problems. Premenstrual mood changes resemble major depression but are shorter in duration and repeat cyclically. The authors propose a three-factor model instead of the traditional PMS concept.
What it means for you
The traditional PMS diagnosis may not capture the real experiences of women with menstrual-related symptoms. Understanding these problems may help explain why depression is more common in reproductive-age women than men. The field needs a new way of thinking about these problems.
Majority
of women excluded from diagnosis
No agreement
on definition or treatment
3-factor model
proposed instead of traditional PMS
About the study
- Original title
- The premenstrual syndrome--a reappraisal of the concept and the evidence
- Authors
- Bancroft J
- Journal
- Psychological medicine
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None (review article)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1017/s0264180100001272
Topics
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