Hormone measures in reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders: Diagnostic issues

Mood disturbances have been identified in association with changes in level s of reproductive hormones, The use of hormonal measures in the diagnosis o f reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders is highly variable, ranging from necessary in perimenopausal depression to irrelevant in premenstrual syndrome, This article describes our view of the use of hormonal measures f or diagnostic and research purposes in perimenopausal depression and premen strual syndrome, We suggest that the understanding of these disorders lies in as yet unidentified contextual factors rather than in hormonal excesses or deficiencies.