---
title: How is premenstrual dysphoric disorder different from premenstrual syndrome, and what treatment helps?
description: PMDD is more severe than PMS and causes real disability in daily life, affecting fewer women. SSRIs are described as working well, sometimes with progestogens
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/untitled-2020/
---

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- How is premenstrual dysphoric disorder different from premenstrual syndrome, and what treatment helps?

Survey study, 2020

# How is premenstrual dysphoric disorder different from premenstrual syndrome, and what treatment helps?

PMDD is more severe than PMS and causes real disability in daily life, affecting fewer women. SSRIs are described as working well, sometimes with progestogens added. This is based on one patient case and a review of past research, not a trial, so certainty is low.

 Early or limited evidence

One woman referred to a mental health unit for suspected PMDD, discussed alongside a review of earlier treatment research.

## What they did

The authors described one woman referred to a mental health unit for suspected PMDD, and reviewed previously published research on accepted treatments for PMDD, comparing it with other mood disorders.

## What they found

Premenstrual syndrome affects 75-80% of women, while PMDD affects 5-8% of women. PMDD involves physical and emotional symptoms that cause real dysfunction or disability, unlike the milder mood changes most women experience. Based on the reviewed literature, treatment with SSRIs works well, and adding progestogens may help when SSRIs alone do not work.

## What it means for you

PMDD should be considered separately from ordinary mood or anxiety problems in women of childbearing age, because it causes more serious disability. Since this is based on a single patient case and a review rather than a new trial, it cannot tell us how well these treatments work for women in general.

75-80%

women who experience premenstrual syndrome

5-8%

women who experience PMDD

## About the study

Original title 经前期综合征与奖赏进程失调——来自脑电的证据 Authors Lulu Hou, Lirong CHEN, Renlai Zhou Journal Acta Psychologica Sinica Year 2020 Study design Survey study Participants 259 What was tested SSRIs, with progestogens added if SSRIs alone did not help. Read the paper [doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2020.00742](https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2020.00742)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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