Effects of medical history factors on symptom severity in women meeting criteria for premenstrual syndrome.

Medical history variables were examined to identify their effects on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women seeking medical treatment. Symptoms were monitored daily for two untreated cycles and two placebo-treated cycles to establish the diagnosis of PMS. Data from 60 women who reported moderate to severe premenstrual mood changes and met criteria for PMS were analyzed statistically. Step regression analysis showed that 34% of the variance in symptom severity was explained by four variables: PMS in the patient's mother, low level of exercise, younger age, and more children. These significant relationships with severity of PMS have not previously been identified and suggest a role of familial and daily stress factors in this complex syndrome.