ABSTRACT
Males and females differ in their predisposition to certain clinical disorders. One of the most widely documented findings in psychiatric epidemiology is that women have higher rates of major depressive episodes than men, a phenomenon observed worldwide using a variety of diagnostic schemes and interview methods.1,2
The prevalence of depression among women in these studies was reported to be between 1.5 and 3 times that of men. Although a genetic predisposition to major depression has been extensively postulated, the actual mechanisms involved in this disorder are still being investigated. Several authors have reported similarities and associations between the symptoms of affective disorders such as anxiety, panic disorder, major depression, and seasonal affective disorder, and premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/ PMDD).3-8 It has also been noted that the incidence of anxiety, mood disorders, and depression among women suffering with PMS is greater than that of the general population.9-11
Evidence supporting the view that a genetically determined vulnerability plays a major role in the expression of PMS/PMDD is derived from twin and family studies,12-15 that showed a high correlation between mothers and daughters and also between mono-and dizygotic twins. Additionally, a similarity of PMS subtypes was noted between mothers and daughters. Thus, genetic factors have been implicated repeatedly in the pathogenesis of PMS/PMDD, although no specific susceptibility gene has been identified.
