Treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder using serotonin agents

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 20%-50% of all women. Premenstrual dysp horic disorder (PMDD), which can be conceptualized as a more severe variant of PMS, can affect 3%-9% of all women. Because a significant number of wom en suffer from premenstrual disorders and afflicted women may spend up to h alf the month suffering from symptoms, it is important to identify and prov ide effective treatment for such women. Historically, it has been difficult to distinguish premenstrual disorders from other depressive disorders, giv en the high comorbidity of the two disorders. Most studies attempt to remov e this confounding factor by excluding women with concurrent depressive dis orders. Despite the difficulties and limitations inherent in studying treat ments for premenstrual disorders, most investigations support the use of se rotonin agents in treating PMDD.