Duration
Depressive episodes directly related to the premenstrual syndrome are usually cyclical episodes a few days before menstruation. The symptoms usually subside abruptly with the onset of menstruation. This also applies to depressive symptoms. If the depressive episodes do not last only a few days, a differential diagnosis should be made of an independent depression, which may have to be treated differently.
Prognosis
In women in whom the depressive disorder occurs exclusively in the context of the premenstrual syndrome, the prognosis of becoming symptom-free with hormone therapy is very good. The symptoms should disappear completely with the onset of menopause even without therapy. If there is a fundamental predisposition for depression, the probability of being permanently free of symptoms is lower.
