What is the difference between PMDD and “premenstrual exacerbations of ongoing mood disorders”?

Premenstrual exacerbations of ongoing mood disorders are separate from PMDD, although the two are sometimes confused with each other. Unlike PMDD, in which there is no underlying psychiatric condition, premenstrual exacerbations occur in people who have a mood disorder (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder) that is worsened during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Careful tracking of symptoms over at least two symptomatic menstrual cycles can help differentiate PMDD from premenstrual exacerbations, since PMDD only causes symptoms during a specific part of the luteal phase, while people with premenstrual exacerbations experience some level of psychiatric symptoms throughout the entire month.^[1] There are also online self-screening tools to help people better differentiate between the two.