premenstrual dysphoria disorder

premenstrual dysphoria disorder

A syndrome affecting some women during the period from about a week before the start of menstruation to about three days after and featuring marked swings of mood, depression and self-critical thoughts, anger, irritability, crying, fatigue, increased appetite and sometimes a craving for high-carbohydrate foods. The disorder is often severe enough to disrupt normal social activity. The condition has been most effectively treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor drugs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), but some sufferers require hormone treatment with an oral contraceptive.