---
title: How did PMDD become recognized as a medical diagnosis? | Niyora
description: Premenstrual mood and behavior problems were noticed for thousands of years, but formal diagnostic criteria were not created until 1987.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/history-evolution-and-diagnosis-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2000/
---

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- How did PMDD become recognized as a medical diagnosis?

Study, 2000

# How did PMDD become recognized as a medical diagnosis?

Premenstrual mood and behavior problems were noticed for thousands of years, but formal diagnostic criteria were not created until 1987.

 Early or limited evidence

Not applicable. This reviews history, not a new study of women.

## What they did

This is a review of the history of PMDD, including when it became officially recognized, how common it is, and how it differs from other mood disorders.

## What they found

Clinically significant premenstrual mood and behavior problems have been observed since ancient times. Formal diagnostic criteria were first proposed in 1987. The review covers how these criteria were developed, what they look like, how common PMDD is, and how it differs from depression and other mood disorders.

## What it means for you

This review explains that PMDD has been observed for a very long time, but doctors only recently developed specific criteria to diagnose it. This helps show that PMDD is a real recognized condition. The review provides historical context but does not test anything new.

1987

Year formal diagnostic criteria were proposed

## About the study

Original title History, evolution, and diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Endicott J Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 2000 Study design Study What was tested Not applicable. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11041378/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11041378/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Systematic review, 2026

How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect?

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