CE/CME / PEER REVIEWED

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care

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References

Additionally, the symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impair daily functioning, including occupational, social, academic, and sexual activities (Criterion D). They must not represent exacerbation of another underlying psychiatric disorder, such as major depressive, dysthymic, panic, or personality disorders (Criterion E), although PMDD may co-occur with psychiatric disorders.1

The above-mentioned symptom profile must be confirmed by prospective daily ratings of a minimum of two consecutive symptomatic menstrual cycles (Criterion F), although a provisional diagnosis of PMDD may be made prior to confirmation.1 The Daily Record of Severity of Problems is the most widely used instrument for prospective daily rating of PMDD symptoms listed in the DSM-5 criteria.5,15

Finally, the symptoms must not be evoked by the use of a substance (eg, medications, alcohol, and illicit drugs) or another medical condition (Criterion G).1

TREATMENT/MANAGEMENT

The goal of PMDD treatment is to relieve psychiatric and physical symptoms and improve the patient's ability to function.3 Treatment is primarily directed at pharmacologic neuromodulation using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or ovulation suppression using oral contraceptives and hormones.2

Pharmacotherapy

SSRIs are the firstline treatment for PMDD.5 Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline are the only serotonergic medications approved by the FDA for treatment of PMDD.2 SSRIs act within one to two days when used for PMDD, thereby allowing different modes of dosing.2 SSRI dosing may be continuous (daily administration), intermittent (administration from ovulation to first day of menses), or symptomatic (administration from symptom onset until first day of menses).3 Although data on continuous and intermittent dosing are available for fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline, symptom-onset data are currently available only for sertraline (see Table 2).16-19

FDA-approved SSRIs for Treatment of PMDD (By Dosing Regimen)

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