Cohort study, 2002
How common is PMDD in midlife women, and what raises the risk?
In this large community study, about 6.4% of women who tracked symptoms daily actually met the criteria for PMDD. Lower education, a past history of major depression, and current smoking were linked to higher odds of PMDD, while not working outside the home was linked to lower odds.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 4164 women aged 36-44 about premenstrual symptoms using a questionnaire. From this group, 976 women were interviewed about their health and life circumstances, and 513 of them went on to track their symptoms daily for one menstrual cycle to confirm a PMDD diagnosis.
What they found
33 of 513 women (6.4%) met full criteria for PMDD based on daily tracking. 14 women (2.7%) had PMDD with no prior history of depression. PMDD was linked to lower education (OR=2.3), a history of major depression (OR=3.6), and current smoking (OR=4.1). Women not working outside the home were less likely to have PMDD (OR=0.2).
What it means for you
PMDD affects a meaningful share of midlife women and is tied to certain life and health factors, suggesting it deserves more attention from doctors. A limitation is that only about half of the eligible women agreed to the detailed daily tracking, and symptoms were only checked over one cycle.
6.4%
women confirmed to have PMDD
OR=3.6
increased odds of PMDD with past depression
OR=4.1
increased odds of PMDD with current smoking
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence and predictors of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in older premenopausal women. The Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles
- Authors
- Cohen LS, Soares CN, Otto MW et al.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 4,164
- What was tested
- No treatment tested; this was an observational study of symptom prevalence and risk factors
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0327(01)00458-x
Topics
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