title: [Psychic aspects of the premenstrual dysphoric disorders. New therapeutic strategies: our experience with Vitex agnus castus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is one of the main problems of the premenstrual phase. It consists of symptoms that sometimes invalidate the scope of employment, social and psycho-affective of patients, requiring thus a diagnostic and therapeutic approach as detailed and accurate as possible. The therapeutic strategies available for this disease are many, but recently the emphasis has been on Vitex agnus castus (VAC), considered by many as evidence drug of choice for both PMS and for the PMDD, being with satisfactory therapeutic properties and small side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study evaluated a group of patients suffering from PMDD and the clinical efficacy of treatment with VAC (and compared the effectiveness of the results of a more homogeneous group of patients treated with fluoxetine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the data reported in the literature regarding the effectiveness of VAC therapy with no side effects.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Universitàdegli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italia. lilliana.ciotta@tin.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciotta
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stracquadanio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Leo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andò
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formuso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D020950:Vitex
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts