OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the prevalence, intensity and duration of premenstrual symptoms (PMS) among women who had committed violent crimes against people at feminine penitentiary Santa Luzia (Maceió-AL). METHODS: A questionnaire based on the CID-10 diagnostic criteria of PMS was applied to 29 arrested women. Some symptoms like depression, back pain, pain or swelling in the legs, headache, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, and irritability were studied in more detail. RESULTS: Twenty arrested women (67%) reported high and severe symptoms, which had caused harm to their daily routine. These women were considered as having PMS. In this group, 80% reported irritability, 70% breast tenderness, 66.6% headache and 56.6% depression. Pain or swelling in the legs was reported by 40%. Abdominal pain was reported by 33.3% and back pain by 20%. The duration of the symptoms was about two to five days for 85% of the interviewees. Only 20% of respondents found that PMS could have been associated with the crime commitment. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the interviewed woman (67%) told at least one symptom of serious intensity in the premenstrual phase, being considered as having PMS.
premenstrual syndrome; crime; violence
