Review, 2026
What causes PMDD and what treatments are available?
PMDD seems to come from the body's abnormal response to hormone and brain-chemical shifts, shaped by genes, stress, immune function and opioid pathways. Several treatments exist, from SSRIs to surgery in severe cases, but this paper only summarises existing research, not a new trial.
What they did
This is a narrative review, meaning the authors read and summarised existing research on PMDD rather than running a new study on patients. It covers what is known about why PMDD happens, how it shows up, how common it is, and how it is currently treated.
What they found
PMDD involves dysregulated hormones and neurotransmitters, with genetic, psychosocial, immune and opioid factors affecting how severe symptoms are. Symptoms include mood changes, sleep disturbance and disordered eating. Treatment options mentioned include SSRIs, hormonal therapies, GnRH agonists, selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs), sepranolone (UC1010), and surgical menopause for severe cases. The authors note that research into genetics and how it interacts with hormones is still limited.
What it means for you
This gives a big-picture view of current medical thinking on PMDD and the range of treatments doctors can consider, including options beyond daily medication. Because it is a review of other studies rather than a new trial, it does not add fresh evidence of its own, and some areas, especially genetics, are described as under-researched.
About the study
- Original title
- Updated insight into the pathophysiology of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and therapeutic approaches
- Authors
- Sultana J, Sharma AR, Soha ST et al.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- No new treatment tested. The review discusses existing options: SSRIs, hormonal therapies, GnRH agonists, SPRMs, sepranolone, and surgery.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121593
Topics
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