Cohort study, 2003
How should doctors determine which cycles count as PMDD?
Different diagnostic methods give very different results. Using a 30% threshold for symptom presence and 50% for recovery after the period correctly identified 92% of PMDD cycles in women with PMS.
What they did
Methodological study analyzing how to apply PMDD diagnostic criteria. Researchers analyzed daily symptom ratings from two cycles each in 25 women with PMS and 25 controls, testing four different severity thresholds.
What they found
Strict literal criteria (symptoms completely present or absent) identified only 28% of PMDD cycles. A 30% threshold correctly identified 86% of PMDD cycles and 70% of control women's cycles without symptoms. A 50% threshold identified 60% of PMDD cycles and 86% of control cycles. The best combination (30% for symptoms and interference, 50% for post-period symptoms) correctly identified 92% of symptomatic cycles in women with PMS and 72% of asymptomatic cycles in controls.
What it means for you
Studies using different diagnostic methods will find different numbers of women with PMDD. Most women without PMS still have some symptoms before their period, making it hard to define who truly has PMDD. Researchers should always describe their method.
92%
Cycles correctly identified with optimal method
28%
Cycles correctly identified with strict criteria
72%
Asymptomatic cycles correctly identified
About the study
- Original title
- Operationalizing DSM-IV criteria for PMDD: selecting symptomatic and asymptomatic cycles for research
- Authors
- Smith MJ, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR
- Journal
- Journal of psychiatric research
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 25
- What was tested
- None - methodological study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3956(02)00053-5
Topics
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