---
title: Should PMDD be included as an official diagnosis in psychiatric manuals?
description: The authors argue yes, because evidence confirms PMDD exists, affects a minority of women, and exists worldwide. Making it official allows affected women to r
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/addressing-concerns-about-the-inclusion-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-in-2014/
---

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- Should PMDD be included as an official diagnosis in psychiatric manuals?

Survey study, 2014

# Should PMDD be included as an official diagnosis in psychiatric manuals?

The authors argue yes, because evidence confirms PMDD exists, affects a minority of women, and exists worldwide. Making it official allows affected women to receive proper recognition and treatment.

 Early or limited evidence

Literature review. No original study population.

## What they did

Literature review. Researchers searched medical and psychology databases from 1966 to 2012 for arguments against including PMDD in the diagnostic manual. They identified 55 articles and grouped 38 different concerns into 6 main concerns that appeared 5 or more times, then addressed each with evidence.

## What they found

Main concerns included fears that PMDD would be used against women in courts or employment, questions about whether it was real, and concerns about pharmaceutical company influence on research. The authors found no historical or legal evidence that PMS has been systematically used to harm women. Current research worldwide confirms PMDD exists in a minority of women.

## What it means for you

This review supports recognizing PMDD as an official diagnosis so women can receive proper attention and treatment. The main limit is that this is a literature review presenting arguments for inclusion, so the authors may be biased in favor of official recognition.

55

articles reviewed

38

total concerns identified

6

main concerns addressed

## About the study

Original title Addressing concerns about the inclusion of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in DSM-5 Authors Hartlage SA, Breaux CA, Yonkers KA Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 2014 Study design Survey study What was tested None. This was a review of existing published research. Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/jcp.13cs08368](https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.13cs08368)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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