Course of premenstrual syndrome symptom severity after treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Patients from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of progesterone suppository treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were followed up to determine poststudy PMS symptom levels and medication use.


METHODS
An average of 1 year after the end of the treatment study, 129 subjects were contacted for telephone interviews. All subjects met criteria for PMS before the progesterone suppository treatment, and their symptoms were confirmed by daily symptom reports throughout the study. The outcome measure at follow-up was the patient's global assessment of symptom severity, which was also rated by the subjects during the treatment study. The ratings at enrollment, end of study, and follow-up were compared.


RESULTS
Only 27% of the subjects (N = 35) were taking medications for PMS at follow-up. Symptom severity at follow-up was less than at enrollment but greater than at the end of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of the improvement gained during treatment was maintained, but overall the subjects remained moderately symptomatic. Validation of the PMS condition, education, and support and caring may account for the symptom decreases during treatment, and the end of treatment and withdrawal of these conditions may account for the moderate return of symptoms.
Freeman
E W
EW
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Rickels
K
K
Sondheimer
S J
SJ
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010919:Placebos; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013488:Suppositories
D010919:Placebos; D013488:Suppositories; D011374:Progesterone