Psychological aspects of women with the premenstrual syndrome

Abstract

A study was carried out in a general practice satnple of 521 women seeing their doctors for a variety of reasons and in 170 women attending a special clinic for premenstrual symptoms to assess the relationship between psychiatric morbidity and premenstrual complaint. The results, based on responses to questionnaires supported by interviews with a psychiatrist and social worker in a sub-sample, showed that there wus a significantly positive relationship. A number of possible explanations for this are discussed briefly.