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Survey study, 2012

What psychiatric conditions are linked to PMDD in Korean women?

About 2.4% of Korean women experience PMDD. Women with PMDD were much more likely to have depression, anxiety, PTSD, alcohol problems, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts than women without PMDD.

Moderate study design 2,499 Korean women aged 18-64

What they did

Researchers surveyed 2,499 Korean women aged 18-64. They used diagnostic interviews to identify PMDD and psychiatric disorders.

What they found

The 12-month PMDD prevalence was 2.4%. Among women with PMDD, 59.3% had at least one psychiatric illness compared with 21.8% of women without PMDD. PMDD was strongly associated with alcohol abuse, major depression, PTSD, social phobia, specific phobia, somatoform disorder, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts. Physical illness and being underweight also increased PMDD risk.

What it means for you

PMDD often occurs alongside depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Women with PMDD should be screened for depression, anxiety, alcohol problems, and suicidal thoughts. The study only looked at Korean women at one time point, so results may not apply everywhere. It was cross-sectional, so it cannot show which conditions cause which.

2.4%

PMDD prevalence in Korean women

59.3%

PMDD cases with psychiatric illness

21.8%

Controls with psychiatric illness

About the study

Original title
Prevalence, correlates, comorbidities, and suicidal tendencies of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a nationwide sample of Korean women
Authors
Hong JP, Park S, Wang HR et al.
Journal
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
Year
2012
Study design
Survey study
Participants
2,499
What was tested
Diagnostic interviews for PMDD and psychiatric conditions

Topics