Study, 2026
What do women in Lahore know about PMDD and do they seek help for it?
About 1 in 10 women in this group had PMDD, and about half understood it well. Although most women had positive attitudes toward treatment, most did not actually see a doctor about it.
What they did
Researchers gave questionnaires to 220 women attending gynecology clinics in Lahore, Pakistan. They asked about knowledge of PMDD, attitudes toward it, and whether women sought professional help. They also used a screening tool to identify who had PMDD.
What they found
10% of the women screened positive for PMDD. 52% showed adequate knowledge about PMDD. Women with university-level education were more likely to understand PMDD. Most women reported positive attitudes toward PMDD treatment, but most did not seek professional help.
What it means for you
PMDD affects about 1 in 10 women in this group. Although understanding and attitudes are positive, a gap exists between knowing about PMDD and actually getting help. This suggests the need for better connection between gynecology care and mental health support. The study comes from one healthcare setting in one city.
10%
women with PMDD
52%
women with adequate knowledge about PMDD
220
women surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES RELATED TO PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER AMONG FEMALES: EVIDENCE FROM LAHORE, PAKISTAN
- Authors
- Major Najma Yasmeen, Major Ishrat, Saba Khan et al.
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None — this was a survey study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18309554
Original abstract
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to PMDD among females in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 220 females attending gynecological outpatient wards at Jinnah Hospital and Lady Wallingdon Hospital, Lahore. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. PMDD was screened using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to PMDD were assessed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of adequate knowledge. Results: The prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder among the studied females was 10%, and 52% demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding PMDD. Multivariate logistic regression showed that females with university-level education were significantly more likely to have adequate PMDD knowledge (AOR = 14.62; 95% CI: 5.84–36.58; p < 0.001), while attitudes were largely positive but professional help-seeking practices remained limited. Conclusion: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is relatively common among females in Lahore, and although knowledge and attitudes are generally positive, limited professional help-seeking underscores the need for integrated PMDD education and mental health services within gynecological care.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
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