---
title: What percentage of women seeking help for premenstrual symptoms have PMDD?
description: Between 14% and 45%, depending on how symptoms were measured. This wide range shows there is no standard way to diagnose PMDD yet.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/late-luteal-phase-dysphoric-disorder-in-670-women-evaluated-for-premenstrual-1992/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- What percentage of women seeking help for premenstrual symptoms have PMDD?

Cohort study, 1992

# What percentage of women seeking help for premenstrual symptoms have PMDD?

Between 14% and 45%, depending on how symptoms were measured. This wide range shows there is no standard way to diagnose PMDD yet.

 Strong study design

Over 1,000 women seeking evaluation for premenstrual complaints at five U.S. sites; 670 analyzed

## What they did

Over 1,000 women at five U.S. sites seeking help for premenstrual symptoms completed daily symptom ratings. Data from 670 women with complete information were analyzed using four different methods to assess symptom change.

## What they found

Depending on assessment method, 14% to 45% of women met PMDD criteria. Current diagnostic symptoms appeared in 7% to 54% of women. Five symptoms not currently in diagnostic criteria were also significantly common.

## What it means for you

Many women seeking help have PMDD, but lack of a standard diagnostic method means estimates vary widely. Better diagnostic criteria are needed.

670

Women with complete data

14% to 45%

Range meeting PMDD criteria

## About the study

Original title Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder in 670 women evaluated for premenstrual complaints Authors Hurt SW, Schnurr PP, Severino SK et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1992 Study design Cohort study Participants 1,000 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.149.4.525](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.149.4.525)

## 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?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗