Interview study, 2005
Can doctors correctly diagnose PMDD and depression in gynecology clinics?
Gynecologists diagnosed PMDD correctly 80% of the time but depression only 48% of the time. Ironically, they were more confident about their depression diagnoses despite being less accurate.
What they did
335 obstetrician-gynecologists received questionnaires with clinical scenarios and were asked to diagnose whether each case showed depression or PMDD. Doctors were randomly assigned to receive either depression or PMDD versions.
What they found
Gynecologists correctly diagnosed PMDD 80% of the time and depression 48% of the time. However, doctors reported significantly more confidence in their depression diagnoses despite lower accuracy. Doctors using valid diagnostic reasoning strategies were more common in PMDD cases than depression cases.
What it means for you
Gynecologists struggle more with depression than PMDD. Their overconfidence in depression diagnoses is concerning because it may cause cases to be missed, contributing to depression being underdiagnosed in these clinics.
335
gynecologists surveyed
80%
accuracy diagnosing PMDD
48%
accuracy diagnosing depression
About the study
- Original title
- Obstetrician-gynecologists' decision making about the diagnosis of major depressive disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Hill LD, Gray JJ, Carter MM et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Interview study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/01443610400023023
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2024
What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?
Cohort study, 2022
What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?
Case-control study, 2019
Do negative thinking patterns increase the risk of PMS or PMDD?
Non-randomised trial, 2008
Do mood, memory, and food cravings worsen during the luteal phase in women with PMDD?
Randomised trial, 2006
Do women with PMDD and depression process progesterone differently than others?
Survey study, 2023
Do women with PMDD have problems with attention and impulse control during the luteal phase?