ABSTRACT
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the cyclic occurrence of a physical and behavioral cluster of signs and symptoms, and its prevalence is being recognized in clinical settings. The term premenstrual tension was coined by Frank in 1931, who described 15 patients with nervous tension, edema, and weight gain, of whom 11 improved markedly after menses. In spite of attempts to identify PMS’s pathophysiology, its etiology remains uncompleted. Due to the cluster of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms involved in PMS, diagnostic techniques are multidimensional. Because of the elusive etiology of PMS, treatment modalities have varied in scope and research. The high percentage of referral to nutritionists supports the etiologic theory regarding dietary deficiencies and the use of diet therapy in the treatment of PMS. Of the treatment modalities used, there was a high percentage of centers using diet therapy with vitamin supplementation.
