Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Premenstrual change was first categorized as a “disorder” in 1931, described as “premenstrual tension” (PMT). It was renamed “premenstrual syndrome” (PMS) in 1956 and included in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) as PMDD, officially categorizing premenstrual mood or behavior change as a psychiatric disorder (see Cosgrove & Caplan, 2004; Ussher, 2006). At the time of writing, a “mood disorders work group” is “accumulating evidence” as to whether PMDD should be included in DSM-5. Women who report a range of psychological and physical symptoms premenstrually, including anxiety, tearfulness, irritability, anger, depression, aches and pains, or bloating, can be diagnosed as having PMDD. It is estimated that around 8–13 % of women meet a PMDD diagnosis each month, with around 75 % meeting the lesser diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – the same conglomeration of symptoms, just experienced to a lesser degree.