PREMENSTRUAL-SYNDROME

Within the past decade, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has become the sub ject of rigorous scientific scrutiny. As a result, diagnostic criteria have been developed, and the pathophysiology of the disorder has been partially elucidated. The preponderance of evidence suggests that the disorder is the result of the interaction of cyclic changes in estrog en and progesterone with specific neurotransmitters. Serotonin and gam ma-amino butyric acid (GABA) appear to be especially important in this regard. Increased understanding of PMS has enabled the development of specific treatment modalities that, unlike previous prescriptions, ha ve demonstrated efficacy in rigorous and reproducible studies.