Diagnosis and Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Abstract

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a gynecologic and psychiatric disorder that affects around 5% of menstruating persons in the United States. Increased awareness has been brought to this disorder since its reclassification and addition of diagnostic criteria in the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) in 2013, but many healthcare providers still struggle to clearly distinguish and properly treat this disorder. Characterized by psychiatric and somatic symptoms present distinctly in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle that severely impact a person\u27s daily functioning, PMDD is thought to be impacted by the metabolism of high amounts of progesterone. Current guidelines recommend treatment with SSRIs or combined oral contraceptives, but new therapeutics are in development. Existing screening and diagnostic tools may be implemented in primary care and gynecologic settings to bring about timely diagnosis and treatment