[The premenstrual syndrome frequency and the intensity of its symptoms in young women and teenagers living in the Upper Silesian Industrial region].

Contemporary home and world medical literatures deal at length with somatic and psychopathologic symptoms connected with changes taking place during the menstrual cycle. The symptoms bring about changes in women's behaviour, life activities and interpersonal relations. The majority of women suffer during the premenstrual period from mood disorder and somatic pains. Nevertheless, the presence of the pains does not diagnose PMS. Over many years PMS has not been clearly defined. Nowadays, making use of precisely-defined criteria, we are able to specify the number of women suffering from the syndrome. Applying the criteria compiled by American Psychiatric Association, we analyse the frequency of PMS occurrence. On the basis of the criteria 180 young women ages 17-25 living in the Upper Silesia Industrial Region have been interviewed. Besides PMS clearly-defined diagnostic criteria the survey included also questions about how the intensity of disorders related to the course of menstrual cycle influences the women's feelings of well-being. The questionnaire scores demonstrate that only few women suffer from PMS defined by American Psychiatric Association, but its symptoms have considerable effects on the women's lives. Simultaneously, many women suffer from numerous pains and disorders which have not been diagnosed as PMS, but which should be examined separately.