---
title: How common is PMDD among Arab women and what factors predict it?
description: About 18.6% of women in the UAE met PMDD criteria. Women with higher education, stressful life events, personal or family mental health problems, and painful
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-severity-and-correlates-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-symptoms-2017/
---

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- How common is PMDD among Arab women and what factors predict it?

Survey study, 2017

# How common is PMDD among Arab women and what factors predict it?

About 18.6% of women in the UAE met PMDD criteria. Women with higher education, stressful life events, personal or family mental health problems, and painful periods were more likely to have PMDD.

 Moderate study design

508 women in Abu Dhabi, UAE (76% Emirati, 15% Omani, 8% other Arabs)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 508 women in Abu Dhabi, UAE between May and September 2005. Women attending routine health care were screened for PMDD using standardized diagnostic tools.

## What they found

18.6% of women (94 women) met PMDD criteria. Of these, 4.1% had severe symptoms, 5.7% had moderate symptoms, and 8.7% had mild or less. PMDD was associated with higher education, being single, major life stressors, use of psychiatric medications, personal or family mental health problems, irregular or painful periods, and functional impairment.

## What it means for you

PMDD affects about 1 in 5 Arab women. Women with personal or family mental health problems may be biologically predisposed to develop PMDD. The main limits are the study was only in one city in 2005, so findings may not represent other Arab regions or current populations.

508

women studied

18.6%

met PMDD criteria

4.1%

had severe PMDD symptoms

## About the study

Original title Prevalence, Severity, and Correlates of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms Among Women in the Arabian Peninsula Authors Osman OT, Sabri S, Zoubeidi T et al. Journal The primary care companion for CNS disorders Year 2017 Study design Survey study Participants 508 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/pcc.17m02112](https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.17m02112)

## 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/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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