title: Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in autism: a prospective observer-rated study.
abstract: A systematic, prospective observer-rated study was carried out to determine the prevalence of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (premenstrual syndrome) in women with autism. A group of women with autism and learning disability (n = 26) was compared with a group of women with a non-autism learning disability (n = 36) matched for age, in-patient status, intelligence, marital status, parity, behavioural problems and ethnicity. Observers rated DSM-IV symptoms of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder every day from each subject over three consecutive menstrual cycles. Using a premenstrual increase in DSM-IV symptoms of >or= 30% as evidence of fulfilment of diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder was 92% in the autism group compared with 11% in the control group. This difference was highly statistically significant. The principal conclusion from this study is that there is a marked increase in premenstrual syndrome in women with autism compared with matched controls.
authors.affiliation: Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust, St Peter's House, Bricket Road, St Albans, UK. hazim@obaydi.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obaydi
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Puri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies