Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a hormonal health condition that causes clinically significant and impairing depression, anxiety, mood swings, and uncomfortable physical symptoms in the week leading up to menses, the onset of a period.
PMDD symptoms improve following menses and are minimal, if not absent, in the weeks following. PMDD disproportionately affects people with autism and ADHD.
Various medications can help control PMDD symptoms1.A patient meets the diagnostic criteria for PMDD if at least five of the following symptoms are met, including at least one from each category.
The symptoms must cause distress or interfere with activities of daily living during most menstrual cycles over the preceding year:While PMDD shares symptoms with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), PMDD is less common and more severe.