Diseases

Premenstrual dysphoric Disorder

Back

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (pmdd) is a severe and disabling form of premenstrual syndrome affecting 3–8% of menstruating women. The disorderconsists of a "cluster of affective, behavioral and somatic symptoms" that recur monthly during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

SYMPTOMS

Despite their similarities, the symptoms of pmdd are more severe that those experienced in pms.
Symptoms are typically present during the week before menses and resolve within the first few days after menstrual onset.
Women who suffer from pmdd are often unable to function at their normal capacity during the symptomatic phase of the condition. The condition can affect relationships and disrupt their routines at home and work.

CAUSES

Experts have yet to identify a cause for pmdd and its counterpart, pms.
It is suggested that pmdd is caused by the brain's abnormal response to a woman's fluctuation of normal hormones during the menstrual cycle, leading in turn to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Some women are more likely than others to experience pmdd and include those who have had a personal or family history of postpartum depression, mood disorders or depression.