Symptom patterns in late luteal-phase dysphoric disorder

The symptom patterns of 180 women with prospectively confirmed late luteal-phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) were examined using a careful application of factor and cluster analytic techniques. Factor analysis of premenstrual change scores on 33 common premenstrual syndrome symptoms yielded four orthogonal factors that were consistent across two sets of menstrual cycle data. These were a negative affect dimension with concomitant behavioral changes, physical symptoms, agitation, and positive arousal. Cluster analysis of factor scores grouped patients into one of five symptom patterns, the most common of which is a general distress cluster, characterized by symptoms across all dimensions. The LLPDD symptom groups identified are remarkably consistent with those of earlier studies using both normative and clinic samples, and consideration of symptom pattern differences in future research may greatly increase our understanding of this disorder.