Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Women, Depression and Severe Premenstrual Symptoms
Oct 16, 2009
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) refers to a set of debilitating symptoms occurring just prior to menstrual bleeding. Unlike “normal” PMS symptoms, PMDD symptoms significantly impair a woman’s ability to function in daily life and are characterized by symptoms of depression.
PMS or PMDD Symptoms?
The difference between premenstrual syndrome symptoms and PMDD symptoms is often one of degree. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms are much more severe than their PMS counterparts. For instance, while irritability is a common premenstrual symptom, PMDD may cause angry outbursts and serious interpersonal conflicts.
Depression is a common symptom of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. While women with premenstrual symptoms may experience mood swings and teariness, women suffering from PMDD experience symptoms of clinical depression and may even exhibit suicidal behavior.
Both PMS and PMDD symptoms occur in the week before menses, and both conditions begin to subside once menstrual bleeding begins.
Women affected by premenstrual syndrome can continue to function – PMS symptoms may be uncomfortable or painful, but are not usually incapacitating. In contrast, it’s not unusual for woman with premenstrual dysphoric disorder to require several days off work every month due to the effect of PMDD symptoms.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Rates
Approximately 80 percent of women experience some degree of PMS symptoms during their reproductive years. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects three to eight percent of all women.
Rates of PMDD appear to be the same for all ethnicities and cultural groups. PMDD symptoms can begin with the onset of menstruation, although some studies suggest the rate of premenstrual dysphoric disorder is highest in women in their mid-30s to mid-40s.
Women, Depression and PMDD
Emotional and behavioral symptoms of PMDD are similar to symptoms of clinical depression – so much so in fact that until 1994, PMDD was classified as a depressive disorder NOS (not otherwise specified). In 1994, an advisory panel determined that premenstrual dysphoric disorder was a distinct condition.
The relationship between PMDD and depression is complex. Diagnostic criteria, on the one hand, rules out PMDD if an existing depressive disorder or other mental illness is worsened by premenstrual symptoms. On the other hand, the DSM-IV-TR also states PMDD may be “superimposed” over existing mental disorders. The two statements appear to be contradictory, and no advice is given on how to distinguish between the two possibilities.
Many women who suffer from PMDD don’t experience depressive symptoms outside of the week prior to menstruation, making a PMDD diagnosis less problematic.
Diagnosing and Treating PMDD
A woman who suspects she has PMDD should consult her doctor. Popular views of the effects of premenstrual syndrome sometimes make it difficult for women to distinguish between PMS and PMDD symptoms, and some women suffer from untreated PMDD for years as a result.
The causes of PMDD continue to elude medical science, although the theory that serotonin imbalances trigger PMDD symptoms has gained favor in the medical profession. Women who seek PMDD help generally respond well to treatment, which includes cognitive behavioral therapy and medication to ease the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Resources:
Htay, T., Aung, K., Carrick, J., Papica, R. (Retrieved 9 October, 2009). Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (Rerieved 9 October, 2009). Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
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