Diagnosis of premenstrual disorders.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review outlining clinical diagnostic criteria and evaluation methods
What was done
This narrative review summarizes diagnostic criteria and clinical assessment pathways for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) based on criteria from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2000) and the American Psychiatric Association. It describes requirements for prospective symptom charting, medical and mental health histories, physical examinations, and laboratory testing.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or diagnostic accuracy statistics. It notes that formal diagnosis of both PMS and PMDD requires two months of prospective symptom tracking using validated instruments or clinician-designed forms, as well as comprehensive differential diagnostic workups to rule out underlying medical or psychiatric disorders. It also notes that many women with debilitating premenstrual disorders remain undiagnosed due to underreporting or clinician diagnostic difficulty.
Why it matters
It outlines standard clinical requirements for identifying PMS and PMDD, emphasizing that prospective daily charting across multiple cycles is necessary to confirm cyclic timing and avoid misdiagnosis.
Limits
The paper is an unsystematic narrative review rather than an empirical trial or systematic meta-analysis. The abstract provides no quantitative measures, sample sizes, diagnostic sensitivity/specificity values, or comparative validation data.
Cited by
- supports Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms typically onset 10 days before menstruation and resolve 2 to 3 days after menstruation starts.