[Premenstrual tension syndrome or premenstrual dysphoria]

Premenstrual Tension Syndrome (PMS) has always existed: it has been first described by an endocrinologist from New York in 1931. It is responsible for significant and psychological disorders which justify the study of its pathogenesis. Hormonal dysfunction has been demonstrated among women who are at risk for PMS; nevertheless, it has been shown that neurological transducers are also affected, such as GABAergic, serotoninergic and endorphinic systems. Interactions between the two systems allow to raise the hypothesis of an inbalance between GABAergic and progesterone derived neurosteroids in a psychoneuroendocrinological model. Based on this hypothesis, psychological symptoms can be efficiently treated by anxiolytic or antidepressant treatment. On the other hand, progesterone derivatives and, sometimes, diuretics, are useful on physical symptoms. As far as we know there is so far no single treatment of demonstrated efficacy in the PMS.