Study, 2008
How much does PMDD reduce women's quality of life compared to other health conditions?
PMDD significantly reduces quality of life, especially mental and emotional wellbeing. The reduction is greater than some chronic conditions like back pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and similar to arthritis.
What they did
Researchers compared quality of life scores for women at risk for PMDD with scores from the general U.S. female population and women with other chronic health conditions. They used a standard quality-of-life questionnaire and adjusted the comparisons for age and other health conditions women might have.
What they found
Six quality-of-life scales and two overall measures showed significantly lower scores for women with PMDD compared to the general population. Both overall measures had a difference greater than 3 points, considered clinically meaningful. The impact of PMDD on mental and emotional quality of life was greater than on physical quality of life. PMDD had greater impact than back pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure on some measures, but similar impact to arthritis on all measures. Depression had greater impact on some aspects than PMDD, while other aspects were similar.
What it means for you
PMDD seriously impacts both physical and mental quality of life, especially mental health. The burden matches common chronic diseases like arthritis, supporting PMDD as a serious condition needing treatment. The study only included U.S. women, so results may not apply in other countries.
6
quality-of-life scales significantly affected
2
overall measures significantly affected
>3 points
difference from normal in overall quality of life
About the study
- Original title
- Burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder on health-related quality of life
- Authors
- Yang M, Wallenstein G, Hagan M et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2007.0417
Topics
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