THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER AND OTHER MOOD DISORDERS

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a premenstrual mood disorder that cyclically recurs during the majority df menstrual cycles. It is included under the category of ''depressive disorders not otherwise s pecified'' in DSM-IV. Given the placement of PMDD with other mood diso rders in DSM-IV, the evidence suggesting an association between PMDD a nd other mood disorders is examined. Primary reports on the epidemiolo gy, phenomenology, family history, psychobiology, and treatment of PMD D were examined for features that are commonly found in other mood dis orders. There is an overlap in the symptoms experienced by women with PMDD and patients with other mood disorders. As in patients with other mood disorders, past episodes of mood disorder and family history of mood disorder are common in women with PMDD. Selected biological marke rs differentiate women with PMDD from controls, and some bur not all a ntidepressants are effective in the treatment of PMDD. Many features o f PMDD support its inclusion in the DSM-IV category of mood disorders. However, a number of factors (biological and cognitive studies, treat ment response) differentiate PMDD from other mood disorders.