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Survey study, 2022

Do different healthcare providers differ in recognizing and treating PMDD?

Yes. Gynecologists and psychiatrists were rated highest for awareness and knowledge of PMDD. Psychotherapists were rated highest for interpersonal skills. Gynecologists were most likely to ask patients to track their symptoms daily. Different providers have different strengths.

Moderate study design 2,512 patients who sought care for PMDD symptoms

What they did

Cross-sectional study of 2,512 patients from the 2018 Global Survey of Premenstrual Disorders. Patients rated four provider types (general practitioners, psychiatrists, gynecologists, psychotherapists) on interpersonal factors, PMDD knowledge, and whether they requested daily symptom tracking. Multilevel regression analyzed effects of provider type.

What they found

Psychotherapists were generally rated highest for interpersonal factors. Gynecologists and psychiatrists were generally rated highest for awareness and knowledge of PMDD. Gynecologists were more likely than other providers to ask patients to track symptoms daily.

What it means for you

Patients with PMDD have better experiences with different types of doctors for different reasons. Psychiatrists and gynecologists know more about PMDD, while psychotherapists are better at communication. Medical training programs may need to improve education about PMDD assessment and treatment. The study relies on patient perception and uses data from 2018.

2,512

Patients surveyed

~5%

Percentage of menstruating individuals affected by PMDD

4

Types of healthcare providers rated

About the study

Original title
Patient Experiences of Health Care Providers in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Examining the Role of Provider Specialty
Authors
Hantsoo L, Sajid H, Murphy L et al.
Journal
Journal of women's health (2002)
Year
2022
Study design
Survey study
Participants
2,512
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes

Topics