Indagine sulle opinioni dei ginecologi italiani relativamente all'approccio diagnostico e terapeutico alla sindrome premestruale

Objective. To evaluate the professional experience and the attitudes of Italian gynaecologists toward the diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods. An anonymous questionnaire was given to all gynaecologists who participated in the Italian Scientific Gynaecological Society National Congress, held in Naples on October 2007 and were present at the Bayer-Schering Stand during the congress. A total of 582 gynaecologists filled the questionnaire (mean age 49 years (SD 10); 58.1% males). Results. Most gynaecologists thought that the most common symptom observed in women with PMS is irritability and the resolution of symptoms after menstruation is the most useful criteria for the diagnosis of PMS. Forty percent of gynaecologists who filled the questionnaire thought that the diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as indicated by the DSM IV is similar to the diagnosis of PMS, 35.7% indicated a more severe condition and 24.1% a less severe condition. Magnesium and oral contraceptives are the most commonly treatments for PMS. Finally 93.8% of gynaecologists says that the type of progestin is important for the treatment of PMS. Conclusion. These results, even if based on a limited and possible selected group of gynaecologists, show that PMS is considered a common problem in routine clinical practice. Furthermore, they indicate that clinical criteria are generally used for the diagnosis of the condition and that magnesium and oral contraceptives are the most common treatments.