Symptoms of depression in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: a variant of mood disorder?

Background: In premenstrual syndrome, depressed mood in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is acknowledged, whereas the presence of symptoms of depression during the follicular phase remains in debate.

Methods: On the basis of prospective daily recording of the presence and severity of symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles, 43 women were diagnosed with Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder (LLPD) according to the criteria of the third edition revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. They were compared to a group of 85 women who showed no evidence of LLPD for two menstrual cycles.