PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDERS - A DIVERSIFIED CLUSTER OF VULNERABILITY TRAITS TO DEPRESSION

Some biological factors which have been shown to be abnormal in subgro ups of women with dysphoric premenstrual syndromes (PMS) have not been limited to the symptomatic late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, but also existed during the non-symptomatic mid-follicular phase of th e cycle. Personality, cognitive functions, alpha(2) and imidazoline bi nding, sensitivity to inducement of panic attacks, relative hypothyroi dism, and some but not all serotonergic functions of women with dyspho ric PMS differ from those with no PMS, and also differ during a non-sy mptomatic phase of the cycle. It is suggested that premenstrual sympto ms are an expression of vulnerability traits that might surface in res ponse to a trigger. Such traits are probably diverse, and the nature o f the symptoms might depend upon the underlying trait. It is postulate d that some vulnerability traits to specific premenstrual syndromes mi ght also be vulnerability traits to depression or anxiety in general.