Study, 2008
How common is PMDD and how does it affect women's lives?
About 5% of menstruating women have severe PMDD with significant impairment in functioning. At least another 20% have clinically significant premenstrual symptoms. PMDD affects romantic relationships, parenting, work, and increases health care use.
What they did
This describes the prevalence of PMDD, its impact on women's lives and functioning, and current understanding of what causes it and how it can be treated.
What they found
Five percent of menstruating women have PMDD with impaired functioning. At least 20% have clinically significant premenstrual symptoms. Women with PMDD experience disruption in relationships and work, and use more health care services. The cause involves dysregulation of serotonin and allopregnanolone. Treatments include serotonin antidepressants, an oral contraceptive with ethinyl estradiol and drosperinone, ovulation-suppressing hormones, anti-anxiety medications, cognitive therapy, chasteberry, and calcium.
What it means for you
PMDD is a serious condition affecting millions of women with real impact on their lives and relationships. Multiple treatment options exist. Diagnosis requires careful symptom tracking over 2 menstrual cycles to confirm the cyclical pattern.
5%
menstruating women with severe PMDD
20%
with clinically significant premenstrual symptoms
2
menstrual cycles needed to diagnose
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: burden of illness and treatment update
- Authors
- Pearlstein T, Steiner M
- Journal
- Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.10.1.90
Topics
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