---
title: Should we understand PMDD only as a medical illness, or also consider gender and social factors?
description: The authors argue that understanding PMDD requires looking beyond just the medical view to include gender and social science perspectives, which helps us unde
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-medicalization-of-feminine-suffering-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2008/
---

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- Should we understand PMDD only as a medical illness, or also consider gender and social factors?

Study, 2008

# Should we understand PMDD only as a medical illness, or also consider gender and social factors?

The authors argue that understanding PMDD requires looking beyond just the medical view to include gender and social science perspectives, which helps us understand women's experiences more fully.

 Early or limited evidence

This is a conceptual paper, not a study of people.

## What they did

The authors reviewed how PMDD is typically described in medical journals and discussed an alternative perspective that includes gender and social science approaches. They highlighted the disconnect between how psychiatry views mental illness and how gender factors into women's suffering.

## What they found

The authors found tensions in psychiatry around understanding PMDD from a gender perspective. They argue that the medical story told in journals leaves out important social and gender context that could help understand women's experiences better.

## What it means for you

Including gender and social perspectives in how doctors understand PMDD may lead to better care. However, this is a discussion of perspectives rather than a clinical study, so there is no data showing how this approach would work in practice.

## About the study

Original title [The medicalization of feminine suffering: premenstrual dysphoric disorder] Authors Matusevich D, Pieczanski P Journal Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Year 2008 Study design Study What was tested No intervention tested. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19835030/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19835030/)

## 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/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)

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.

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