Fulfillment of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder criteria confirmed using a self-rating questionnaire among Japanese women with depressive disorders

Yoshiko Miyaoka,Yoshie Akimoto,Toshiko Kamo,Yoko Uchiide,Kayoko Ueda,Yuri Ujiie,Machiko Kametani

doi:10.1186/1751-0759-5-5

Yoshiko Miyaoka, Yoshie Akimoto + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0759-5-5

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Abstract

BackgroundSome women with depressive disorders experience severe premenstrual symptoms. However, there have been few studies in which premenstrual symptoms in women suffering from depressive disorders were assessed. In this study, we aimed to investigate premenstrual symptoms in women with depressive disorders using the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) scale.MethodsWe administered questionnaires to 65 Japanese female outpatients who had been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder and to 303 healthy women as control subjects. The questionnaire consisted of items on demographics and the PMDD scale, which was modified from the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) developed by Steiner et al. (Arch Womens Ment Health 2003, 6:203-209).ResultsTwenty-eight women (43.1%) with depressive disorder fulfilled certain items of the PMDD scale. These women are considered to have coexisting PMDD and a depressive disorder, or to have premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of a depressive disorder. On the other hand, 18 women (5.9%) in the control group were diagnosed as having PMDD. The depressive disorder group who fulfilled the PMDD criteria had more knowledge of the term premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and took more actions to attenuate premenstrual symptoms than the control group with PMDD.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that the occurrence of severe premenstrual symptoms is much higher in women with depressive disorders than in healthy subjects. This is partially due to this group containing women with PME, but mainly due to it containing women with PMDD. The higher percentage of PMDD suggests similarity between PMDD and other depressive disorders. Furthermore, educating healthy Japanese women and women with depressive disorders about premenstrual symptoms and evidence-based treatment for them is necessary.

Highlights

80% of all women of reproductive age experience physical and/or psychological changes in the late luteal phase; i.e., the premenstrual period [1]
We examined the percentage of women with depressive disorders who fulfilled premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) criteria using a self-rating questionnaire; these women may have included those with premenstrual exacerbation (PME), as well as those with PMDD
PMDD scale We developed the PMDD scale [13] based on DSMIVcriteria [4], which was modified from the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) developed by Steiner et al [14]

Summary

Introduction

80% of all women of reproductive age experience physical and/or psychological changes in the late luteal phase; i.e., the premenstrual period [1]. Psychological changes include depressive mood, irritability, and tension. In the field of psychiatry, the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 3rd edition, revised (DSM-III-R) proposed a new diagnosis “late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD)” in an appendix for further research [3]. In the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) [4], a new diagnosis, “premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)” is listed as a criterion for further study instead of LLPDD. Some women with depressive disorders experience severe premenstrual symptoms. There have been few studies in which premenstrual symptoms in women suffering from depressive disorders were assessed. We aimed to investigate premenstrual symptoms in women with depressive disorders using the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) scale

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