HEALTHMEDICAL SCIENCESMENTAL HEALTHRESEARCH

29 January 2024

Around 1.6% of women and girls have symptomatic Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), according to a new review of global studies.

Researchers led by Dr Thomas Reilly at the University of Oxford looked at studies from across the world to work out how many women and girls met the strict diagnostic criteria for the condition. The data suggested around 1.6% did – equivalent to around 31 million women and girls globally (1).

A higher proportion - 3.2% - had provisional diagnoses, where the condition is suspected but symptoms had not been measured for a sustained period of time to meet criteria for confirmed diagnosis.
The findings have been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Symptoms of PMDD include mood changes (such as depression and anxiety), physical symptoms (such as breast tenderness, and joint pain), and cognitive problems (difficulty concentrating or memory complaints).

Dr Reilly, who is a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Research Training Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford University and Specialist Registrar at the National Female Hormone Clinic, Maudsley Hospital, says the proportion of those affected could be higher than 1.6%.

“Because diagnostic criteria is so strict, this is likely an underestimation of the lifetime prevalence of PMDD, and many more women and girls may be undiagnosed. Even so, the data emphasises that at a given timepoint there is still a significant minority of women with symptomatic PMDD, which is strongly associated with suicidal thoughts,” he said.

“There is little training around PMDD for psychiatrists or indeed medical students. Patients often find themselves falling through gaps in clinical services, such as between gynaecology and mental health services. GPs’ knowledge about PMDD is also very variable. In psychiatry, we rarely consider whether a patient’s symptoms might relate to hormonal changes.

“We need better awareness and training among health professionals about this debilitating but highly treatable condition so that patients can benefit from effective, evidence-based management and support,” Dr Reilly added.

Researchers used data from 50,659 female participants in 44 studies across six continents. They say the data challenges many preconceptions about the illness, including that it is a medicalisation of ‘normal’ menstrual symptoms, or that it was a ‘Western culture-bound syndrome’.

Clare Knox, an organisational psychologist who co-authored the paper and has experienced PMDD herself, said: “In a world where the health and wellbeing of every individual matters, the revelation that approximately 31 million females worldwide may be silently grappling with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a condition that deeply impacts their daily lives, cannot be overlooked.

“This staggering figure is a wake-up call, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic processes, effective treatment plans, and robust support systems for those affected. More than ever, it is vital that we invest in comprehensive research and public health strategies to address and manage PMDD, ensuring that these millions of women do not face their struggles in the shadows, but rather with the full support and understanding of a society that values their health as a priority.”