---
title: Are women overestimating their PMDD symptoms or do they actually have PMDD?
description: Women significantly overestimate PMDD. When women self-assessed their symptoms, 51.76% thought they had PMDD, but when clinically evaluated by a doctor, only
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cognitive-vulnerability-to-depression-or-overestimation-of-premenstrual-2023/
---

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- Are women overestimating their PMDD symptoms or do they actually have PMDD?

Interview study, 2023

# Are women overestimating their PMDD symptoms or do they actually have PMDD?

Women significantly overestimate PMDD. When women self-assessed their symptoms, 51.76% thought they had PMDD, but when clinically evaluated by a doctor, only 5.88% actually met the clinical criteria for PMDD.

 Early or limited evidence

105 women (85 from general population, 20 with Major Depressive Disorder)

## What they did

Researchers surveyed 105 women (85 from the general population and 20 with depression) and compared what they self-reported about PMDD with what doctors found using clinical interviews and standard diagnostic criteria.

## What they found

Self-reported PMDD was much higher at 51.76% compared to clinically diagnosed PMDD at 5.88%. This shows that women's expectations and how they remember their symptoms may make them think their premenstrual problems are more severe than they are by clinical standards.

## What it means for you

Women may overestimate how much their premenstrual symptoms meet the clinical criteria for PMDD based on their own expectations and memories. This is important because it may lead to unnecessary worry or treatment. However, the study was small and included women with depression. Also, even if symptoms don't meet clinical PMDD criteria, they still affect women's quality of life.

105

Women surveyed

51.76%

Self-reported PMDD

5.88%

Clinically diagnosed PMDD

## About the study

Original title Cognitive vulnerability to depression or overestimation of premenstrual dysphoric symptoms? Authors Cristina Senín‐Calderón, María Claudia Scurtu, Celia Ceballos-Munuera et al. Journal Behavioral Psychology/Psicología Conductual Year 2023 Study design Interview study Participants 105 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.51668/bp.8323303n](https://doi.org/10.51668/bp.8323303n)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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