Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sertraline in Treating Women With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMDD affects nearly 5 percent of menstruating women in the United States. This disorder is very disruptive and can affect a woman's performance at work and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms typically occur 10 to 14 days before the start of a woman's period and dissipate soon after. Sadness, rapid changes in mood, anxiety, and irritability are common symptoms associated with PMDD. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat PMDD. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of sertraline in reducing symptoms in women diagnosed with PMDD. All participants will begin this study by recording their symptoms for two complete menstrual cycles. At a baseline study visit, participants will then be randomly assigned to receive either sertraline or placebo for six menstrual cycles. At the onset of PMDD symptoms, participants will take two pills of their assigned treatment daily. Once symptoms have dissipated, usually around the first or second day of the menstrual cycle, participants will stop taking their assigned treatment for that cycle. For the next 4 months, participants will attend study visits on the fifth day of each monthly menstrual cycle. For the following 2 months, participants will be contacted by telephone. Participants will be asked to rate their mood and symptoms at each contact. A final study visit will be scheduled on the first day of the seventh menstrual cycle. At this point, all participants will be offered sertraline for an additional three menstrual cycles, dosed on a daily basis. Two study visits will be scheduled over the course of the three cycles to evaluate the effectiveness of sertraline when dosed continuously. Urine collection and pregnancy tests may occur at selected times during the study.