Posted October 17th 2022
This blog contains reference to suicide.
Professor Arianna di Florio from the National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University is currently leading PreDDICT (premenstrual dysphoric disorder â indicators, causes and triggers) a new research study that endeavours to discover more about PMDD to improve diagnosis, intervention, and treatment.
On Monday 10 October, Professor di Florio hosted a webinar in partnership with the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD)- a global organisation that aims to provide peer support, education, research, and advocacy for premenstrual disorders.
Watch the webinar
We were joined by people all over the world for the webinar that discussed various misconceptions surrounding PMDD. Professor di Florio offered a data/ research led perspective, and we welcomed Laura Murphy, Director of Education and Awareness from the IAPMD who shared her own lived experience of the condition and her work with the organisation.
NCMH psychology assistant Chloe Apsey, who is also working on PreDDICT, provided a general overview of PMDD and the menstrual cycle:
The phase of the menstrual cycle where most people begin to experience symptoms of PMDD is the luteal phase â the days between ovulation and menstrual bleeding â lasting twelve to fourteen days and characterised by high levels of progesterone.
PMDD symptoms can include:
- Depression or severe low mood
- Anxiety
- Decreased interest in usual activities (such as work, school, interacting with friends, and hobbies)
- Lethargy, becoming easily fatigued, or a lack of energy
- Hypersomnia or insomnia
Chloe Apsey noted that though PMDD can impact anyone who experiences a menstrual cycle, most of the literature that will be discussed recruited participants who identify as women. For information regarding the experiences of transgender people with PMDD, click here.
Professor di Florio then introduced Laura Murphy from IAPMD and invited her to share her own experiences of the condition.
âI was seventeen years old when I first started the contraceptive pill, and on day twenty-one when I stopped taking it for the required break, I believe my hormone levels dropped significantly and my mental health hit the floor,â Laura noted of her first experiences of hormonal mental ill-health.
It was a running joke in my university house that I could get angry, tired, and irritable around the time of my period. But I never really made that link between my cycle and my mood”.
Professor di Florio asked Laura what led her to think that she was experiencing PMDD.
âPMDD was first picked up on by my counsellor, which led to numerous GP visits and symptom dismissalsâ.
âIâd spent a lot of time accepting my symptoms as just the way I am, that I just couldnât cope with life like everyone else, that Iâm brokenâ.
After researching PMDD, Laura discovered resources and community support.
It was validating to know there were others like me. My story is not unique, there are others who have gone through the same as me”.
Professor di Florio then asked Laura what treatments she was offered upon diagnosis, and she described the effectiveness of the treatment available for PMDD, including her experience of surgery.
âIâd already lost a lot of years to PMDD, and I wanted to take some time back for myself. It was literally, the only thing left for me to tryâ.
Listed below is a summary of misconceptions discussed in the webinar.
Does PMDD exist?
Professor di Florio referenced the World Health Organisation, and diagnostic systems that identify and classify diseases and mental health disorders, such as the DSM-5, an internationally recognised manual for assessing and diagnosing mental disorders, alongside lived experience accounts (such as Lauraâs) when discussing the existence of PMDD.
Those who believe that PMDD does not exist maintain that this is because PMDD is a cultural-bound phenomenon with a strong societal basis”.
However, Professor di Florio presented a world map displaying symptom recording locations, noting that “although non-Western cultures typically refer to symptoms as PMS, the rates itself are very similar- if not higher- than those of similar studies conducted in the West.â
Is the response to hormonal changes always the same?
âIt is important to note that all people are different, and the same hormonal changes can trigger different responses according to the personâs sensitivities which can change over time,â Professor di Florio stated.
âOne size does not fit all here,â she said.
Professor di Florio used studies from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to illustrate this change.
Perhaps PMDD should be referred to as a plural term to acknowledge the differing of symptoms.
In response to this, Laura highlighted a webinar from the IAPMD that discusses the sub-types of PMDD which can be found here, adding that âsymptoms can appear at any point throughout the reproductive lifeâ.
âTracking symptoms is key to unpicking what is going on,â she continued, directing viewers to a self-screener toolkit on the IAPMD website.
Is PMDD associated with suicidality?
âWhilst suicidality is not listed amongst the symptoms of PMDD, the literature suggests that those with PMDD are at a risk of suicidality,â Professor di Florio noted, referencing various studies that conclude higher suicide rates of women with PMDD.
However, Professor di Florio notes that to compare this with the rates of general suicidality is more difficult as there would need to be a specific PMDD and suicidality survey.
What is the future of research in PMDD?
Professor di Florio notes that her PreDDICT survey uses DNA and genetics which is fixed at birth, meaning participants do not necessarily need to be experiencing symptoms at present, but may have in the past. Additionally, DNA can be collected as easily as providing a saliva sample.
âUsing DNA can offer clues into the biology of PMDD. Many variations with small effects influence the risk of developing common disorders,â she continues.
Professor di Florio gives thanks to staff, research participants, Laura and IAPMD, funders, and the Cardiff University team before introducing the Q&A session. Watch the webinar:
Take part
Resources
- Webinar | PMDD: Myths and Misconceptions
- IAPMD | What is PMDD?
- IAPMD | Self-screen
Read more
- NCMH blog | Understanding the causes of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- NCMH blog | PMDD: understanding an overlooked condition
- NCMH blog | Can you help us learn more about PMDD
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