Management of premenstrual syndrome

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

MethodologyThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Green-top Guideline No. 48 on Management of Premenstrual Syndrome 1 was used as the starting point for this review.The Cochrane Library (including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE and EMBASE), TRIP, Medline (1966-2006), Psych INFO (1960-2006), CINHAL (1982-2006) and BNI (1985-2006) were searched.The databases were searched using the relevant MeSH terms, including all subheadings, and this was combined with a keyword search.Search words included 'premenstrual syndrome', 'premenstrual tension', 'late luteal phase dysphoric disorder', 'premenstrual dysphoric disorder', 'PMDD', 'PMS', 'LLPDD' and 'PMT' and the search was limited to humans and the English language.The National Library for Health and the National Guidelines Clearing House were also searched for relevant guidelines and reviews.Enquiries for relevant information were also made to the pharmaceutical industry and researchers for missing studies and discussion with patient advocacy groups [e.g. the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome (NAPS)].A superscript system is also used (refer to Key on page 189) to indicate key facts for each intervention. DefinitionMany women experience mild physical and emotional PMS symptoms that are not particularly troublesome.However, when severe these symptoms can lead to a breakdown in interpersonal relationships and interfere with normal activities.A working definition of PMS is "a condition which manifests with distressing physical, behavioural and psychological symptoms not due to organic or underlying psychiatric disease, which regularly recurs during the luteal phase of each menstrual (ovarian) cycle and which disappears or significantly regresses by the end of menstruation". 2 The severity of symptoms is Management of premenstrual syndromeNick