Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Premenstrual symptoms are distressing for up to 20% of reproductive-aged women and are linked with impairment in interpersonal or workplace functioning for at least 3-8%. Typical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and the severe form, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, include irritability, anger, mood swings, depression, tension/anxiety, abdominal bloating, breast pain and fatigue. The symptoms come and go monthly and last for an average of 6 days per month for the majority of the reproductive years. For women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the symptoms can be as disabling as major depressive disorder. It has been estimated that affected women experience almost 3000 days of severe symptoms during the reproductive years. Until two decades ago, there were no effective remedies for severe premenstrual syndrome. Even in 2000, almost three-quarters of women in the USA with premenstrual disorders either did not find help or sought treatment unsuccessfully from at least three clinicians for over 5 years. This review will highlight on the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment results, quality of life and burden of illness for premenstrual disorders.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), is differentiated mainly by psychological symptoms restricted to the premenstrual period, which decrease not only patients' quality of life, but also their working activities. Although various therapies have been employed for PMDD, some patients do not replied to them. We recently employed acupuncture treatment for a patient in PMDD. Symptoms ameliorated during the acupuncture (+) period, but deteriorated during the acupuncture (-) period. This review describes the clinical course of this case. The diagnosis and treatment of PMDD are briefly summarized and previous acupuncture treatment for PMS are briefly. The complications in evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for PMS/PMDD are addressed. It is adviced that acupuncture may be a treatment choice for PMDD.
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