Times in remission from affective illness were prolonged during treatment with lithium carbonate and carbamazepine, but lithium was the more effective. Similar global scores for the two drugs suggested that other factors may determine their acceptability.

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Forty-five women were referred to the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) clinic by their general practitioners over a 2-year period; 24 were included in the study. For 2 months they attended the clinic weekly, where they completed a menstrual distress questionnaire and self-rating scales relating to depression and anxiety. They also kept a daily record of their symptoms. After this observation period the presence of 'nervous symptoms' limited to the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle was found in only 12 subjects. These women were randomly allocated to receive either Efamol in combination with Efavit or placebo for 2 months. The following'2-month washout period was succeeded by a crossover to the other treatment regimen. Ten women completed the trial. The results showed that the depression and anxiety scores improved during the medication months, but that there was no difference between active therapy and placebo.KEY woRDs-Premenstrual syndrome, evening primrose oil.