While PMDD and PMS share similarities, PMDD is both much more severe than PMS and less common, affecting an estimated 1% to 8% of people.[1][2] The intense emotional and behavioral symptoms of PMDD are usually what sets it apart from PMS. During the luteal phase, people with PMDD report “not feeling like themselves,” significant psychological distress, difficulty engaging in daily life, and damaged personal and work relationships.[3][4] This does not mean that PMS is not a challenging condition. However, PMDD is life-altering and often devastating without treatment. It is also less likely to respond to lifestyle and herbal interventions when compared to PMS.[5]
References
- ^Gehlert S, Song IH, Chang CH, Hartlage SAThe prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a randomly selected group of urban and rural women.Psychol Med.(2009-Jan)
- ^Tiranini L, Nappi RERecent advances in understanding/management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder/premenstrual syndrome.Fac Rev.(2022)
- ^Hardy C, Hardie JExploring premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in the work context: a qualitative study.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.(2017-Dec)
- ^Elizabeth Osborn, Anja Wittkowski, Joanna Brooks, Paula E Briggs, P M Shaughn O'BrienWomen's experiences of receiving a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a qualitative investigationBMC Womens Health.(2020 Oct 28)
- ^Carlini SV, Lanza di Scalea T, McNally ST, Lester J, Deligiannidis KMManagement of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Scoping Review.Int J Womens Health.(2022)