(Psych Central News) A new study addresses premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe mood disorder which affects five to seven percent of all women of reproductive age in the United States.Unfortunately, the disorder is often misdiagnosed as major depression or other mood disorders. In the study, PMDD is determined to be a biologically different form of premenstrual [...]

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From Psych Central News.

The article said that treatments for PMDD are effective for only half of women, although it didn't state what the treatments were. It would be interesting to know what treatments only work half the time. I'm guessing since the people doing the research are doctors, the treatments were prescription medications?

I think it's very important while pursuing treatment options, that women focus on improving their overall health. For example, regular and vigourous exercise causes the body to release endorphins & increase serotonin levels. Also, a healthy diet is the one of the basics of good health. I think by working on improving the basics, some women will be able to get down to the cause of their PMDD symptoms and rely less on medications. That's just my two cents anyway

Kristin

I remember having PMDD way before it had a name. I have also been dx'd with major depression and have been on meds for 20 years for it.

In my 20s I had PMDD so bad I could be depressed three weeks out of the month! Some months it wasn't so bad, but 25-30 were some bad years. I have been waiting for menopause since age 16!!!

I never took anything specifically for the PMDD, but my underlying issues finally got attend and at least I got meds..it took a long long time for someone to take my sx seriously, and be suicidal to get the meds.

I can see how having an underlying major depression tends to confuse things. But the treatment is the same. So I guess I don't see it as an issue.

Here is a link to the American Psychiatric Association's official diagnostic criteria for PMDD: PMDD diagnostic criteria

One important thing to do if you don't know whether you have depression or PMDD, is to document your symptoms. Write it down on a calendar or chart. That way you have an accurate picture of WHAT the symptoms are & WHEN they happened. When you see a pattern of your symptoms related to your menstrual cycle, then that tells you it may not be just regular depression.

WHEN or IF you go to a doctor, you can take your records with you to help them diagnose you. AND when you start treatment or lifestyle changes, you can also document if they help you.

I know that I have PMDD and I have attempted to do just that. I try to push through it because, honestly, most of the treatments that have been suggested to me seem like they could have worse side-effects than the problems I have now, lol.

I've had doctors suggest "Well, you should be on birth control anyway, so we'll just choose one that will combat the PMDD symptoms." Problem is I don't NEED BC, considering my sexual orientation, and I'd rather not have to deal with the side-effects of BC if I don't have too.

I was doing better with exercise and health issues, unfortunately I had to go back on medication for my Pseudotumor Cerebri and that's sucked the life out of me. I have no energy whatsover...so it's just compounding the problems that PMDD already gave me.