AbstractThis paper is an overview of research on premenstrual syndrome (PMS), focusing on the key topics of definition of the syndrome and the relationship of PMS to psychiatric illness. The etiology and treatment of PMS is discussed. Medical‐legal implications of PMS are also reviewed with attention directed to the few studies and court cases relating PMS to the concept of diminished criminal responsibility. Researchers are beginning to make some progress with respect to criteria for the diagnosis of PMS. Much work remains concerning the questions of the relationship of PMS to psychiatric disorders and whether PMS should be considered as one syndrome or man