INTODUCTION: Premenstrual dysphoria (PMD), which affects between 3% and 8% of women during reproductive years, represents a more severe type of premenstrual syndrome. Mood and behavior changes are predominant in PMD. It is believed that there is some kind of link between PMS and mood disorders. OBJECTIVE: Studying the efficacy of antidepressants in PMD. METHODS: We elaborated a review of controlled clinical trials with antidepressants in the treatment of PMD, using the following databases: Medline, LILACS, psycINFO and Cochrane Library. RESULTS: Clomipramine, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine and venlafaxine were superior to placebo in various studies. DISCUSSION: Women with PMD possibly present a serotonergic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Some antidepressants, specialy SSRIs, seem to be effective in the treatment of PMD.
premenstrual syndrome; treatment; antidepressants; review
