Guideline, 2016
What are the best standards for diagnosing and managing premenstrual disorders?
Expert consensus recommends keeping a symptom diary for 2 months before diagnosis, using SSRIs as first-line treatment for PMS, and carefully explaining SSRI side effects to patients.
What they did
Members of the International Society of Premenstrual Disorders submitted proposed auditable standards for diagnosing and managing premenstrual disorders. All members then ranked these standards by priority.
What they found
95% of members (18 of 19) responded with at least one standard, resulting in 66 total standards. Key diagnostic standards included obtaining accurate history, keeping a symptom diary for 2 months before diagnosis, and confirming symptoms occur in the premenstrual phase and resolve with menstruation. For treatment, SSRIs should be used as first-line, treatments should be evidence-based, and SSRI side effects should be properly explained to patients.
What it means for you
This provides a standardized framework for consistent diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual disorders across clinical settings. However, these are expert recommendations rather than findings from new research data.
95%
Member response rate (18 of 19 members)
66
Auditable standards submitted
2 months
Recommended symptom diary duration for diagnosis
About the study
- Original title
- Fourth consensus of the International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD): auditable standards for diagnosis and management of premenstrual disorder
- Authors
- Ismaili E, Walsh S, O'Brien PMS et al.
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Guideline
- What was tested
- Expert consensus standards for diagnosis and management
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0631-7
Topics
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