Do people with ADHD traits have higher rates of PMDD than others?

Objectives: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has a substantial impact on adult female workers. This study investigates the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits and PMDD among female employees with no history of pregnancy and not using contraceptives. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from an online survey conducted in October 2023 among Japanese full-time female employees aged 20-44 who have not used contraceptives and who have not experienced pregnancy. ADHD/ASD traits were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and the 10-item Autism Spectrum Quotient, respectively. We used the PMDD scale, which was developed in Japanese based on the research criteria described in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-IV-text revision. Multiple logistic regression was conducted by adjusting age, educational attainment, and occupation. Results: A total of 2000 participants were included in the analysis, of which 8.6 % exhibited ADHD traits, and 12.8 % exhibited ASD traits. The prevalence of PMDD was 5.1 %. Participants with ADHD traits had a significantly higher risk of PMDD, which remained significant after adjusting for covariates (adjusted OR = 6.49, 95 % CI: 4.10-10.2, p < 0.001). No significant association was found between ASD traits and PMDD. Conclusion: Among full-time female employees, ADHD traits were significantly associated with suffering from PMDD, while no significant association was observed between ASD traits and PMDD. These present epidemiological results may contribute to improving workplace and clinical interventions to address PMDD.

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