PURPOSE Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by severe affective and physical symptoms, such as increased pain, during the late-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The mechanisms underlying hyperalgesia in women with PMDD have yet to be identified, and supraspinal pain modulation has yet to be examined in this population. The present study assessed endogenous pain inhibitory...

CONTEXT Over the years, different hypotheses involving the ovarian steroid hormones have been proposed to explain the luteal phase occurrence of severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Although it had been strongly suspected that differences in the concentrations of the ovarian steroids may underlie the mood and psychological imbalance of this disorder, the evidence for this hypothesis has been ...

Currently it is estimated that 3-8% of women of reproductive age meet strict criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Assessment of published reports demonstrate that the prevalence of clinically relevant dysphoric premenstrual disorder is probably higher. 13-18% of women of reproductive age may have premenstrual dysphoric symptoms severe enough to induce impairment and distress, th...

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) affects 3-8% of women of reproductive age and is characterized by severe mood symptoms that cause important functional impairment. Serotonergic antidepressants appear to be an effective treatment for this disorder. The purpose of this study was to collect evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine, a dual reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and no...

Premenstrual syndrome and its most severe form, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), are two well-defined clinical entities that affect a considerable number of women. Progesterone metabolites and certain neurotransmitters, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin, are involved in the etiology of this condition. Until recently, the only treatment for women with PMDD was psychoactive dru...

Premenstrual symptoms are extremely common among women of reproductive age. As many as 75% of women report minor or isolated premenstrual symptoms, up to 50% of women are estimated to have premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and 3% to 5% of women are considered to have severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) [1,2]. PMDD has been defined as a psychophysiological disorder in which both soma...