Case-control study, 1999
What are the main symptom patterns in PMDD?
PMDD has five distinct symptom groups: anger and irritability, depressed mood, anxiety and tension, decreased energy with physical symptoms, and eating problems. These patterns were identified through analysis of 99 women's symptoms.
What they did
Researchers analyzed prospectively measured symptoms from 99 women with PMDD using statistical methods on all 24 symptom items from the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.
What they found
Five main symptom patterns emerged: anger and irritability, depressed mood, anxiety and tension, decreased energy and interest with physical symptoms, and eating problems. Variation was found across different cycle phases and between groups.
What it means for you
PMDD involves multiple distinct symptom groups rather than just one symptom. Understanding these patterns helps doctors recognize and diagnose PMDD correctly. The main limit is that this is one study, so symptom patterns may vary in other populations.
99
Women studied
24
Symptom items analyzed
5
Main symptom patterns identified
About the study
- Original title
- Symptom patterns of premenstrual dysphoric disorder as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV
- Authors
- Gehlert S, Chang CH, Hartlage S
- Journal
- Journal of women's health
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 99
- What was tested
- None; this was observational analysis of symptom patterns
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1999.8.75
Topics
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