Survey study, 2014
Do doctors actually diagnose PMDD using the research-recommended 60-day monitoring method?
No. Only 11.5% of physicians surveyed reported using 60-day monitoring routinely, and only 18.4% reported using any type of daily symptom monitoring for diagnosis.
What they did
87 physicians (obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine) were recruited by mail and completed a survey about their current diagnostic practices for PMDD.
What they found
Only 11.5% of physicians reported routinely using 60-day symptom monitoring. Only 18.4% reported regular use of any type of daily symptom monitoring. There were no differences in these practices based on how often physicians saw PMDD patients or physician type.
What it means for you
Most doctors are not diagnosing PMDD according to established research guidelines, which could lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. This shows a gap between what research says is best practice and what happens in clinical care. The main limitation is the small physician sample and reliance on self-reported practice.
87
physicians surveyed
11.5%
use 60-day monitoring routinely
18.4%
use any daily monitoring
About the study
- Original title
- Does a disconnect occur between research and practice for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) diagnostic procedures?
- Authors
- Craner JR, Sigmon ST, McGillicuddy ML
- Journal
- Women & health
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 87
- What was tested
- None (practice survey)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2014.883658
Topics
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