Scientific Papers

Explore a curated selection of peer-reviewed scientific literature recommended by the IAPMD Clinical Advisory Board. These articles deepen understanding of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME), and related mood and hormone-based conditions.

By translating complex clinical findings into clear, evidence-based insights, this collection supports better patient outcomes, informs clinical practice, and empowers individuals impacted by premenstrual disorders to make informed decisions.

Understanding PMDD/PME

Peters, J. R., Schmalenberger, K. M., Eng, A. G., Stumper, A., Martel, M. M., & Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A. (2025). Dimensional Affective Sensitivity to Hormones across the Menstrual Cycle (DASH-MC): A transdiagnostic framework for ovarian steroid influences on psychopathology. Mol Psychiatry, 30(1), 251-262. View NEW!



Eisenlohr-Moul, T. (2019). Premenstrual Disorders: A Primer and Research Agenda for Psychologists. Clin Psychol, 72(1), 5-17. View



Epperson, C. N., Steiner, M., Hartlage, S. A., Eriksson, E., Schmidt, P. J., Jones, I., & Yonkers, K. A. (2012). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: evidence for a new category for DSM-5. Am J Psychiatry, 169(5), 465-475. View



Hartlage, S. A., Breaux, C. A., & Yonkers, K. A. (2014). Addressing concerns about the inclusion of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in DSM-5. J Clin Psychiatry, 75(1), 70-76 View



Hartlage, S. A., & Gehlert, S. (2001). Differentiating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder From Premenstrual Exacerbations of Other Disorders: A Methods Dilemma. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 8(2), 242-253. View



Reilly, T. J., Knox, C. L., Marsh, M. S., & Craig, M. C. (2023). A case series of premenstrual disorders presenting to the UK's National Female Hormone Clinic. BJPsych Bull, 47(5), 263-266. View



Gordon, J. L., Chenji, S., Di Florio, A., Hantsoo, L., MacDonald, S., Peters, J. R., Ross, J. M., Schmalenberger, K., & Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A. (2025, Feb). Suicidality should be considered for inclusion in the diagnostic criteria for PMDD. Lancet Psychiatry, 12(2), 90-92. View NEW! IAPMD Clinical Advisory Board





Causes and the Role of Hormones

Hantsoo, L., & Epperson, C. N. (2015). Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Epidemiology and Treatment. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 17(11), 87. View



Kuehner, C., & Nayman, S. (2021). Premenstrual Exacerbations of Mood Disorders: Findings and Knowledge Gaps. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 23(11), 78. View



Hartlage, S. A., Brandenburg, D. L., & Kravitz, H. M. (2004). Premenstrual exacerbation of depressive disorders in a community-based sample in the United States. Psychosom Med, 66(5), 698-706. View



Dubey, N., Hoffman, J. F., Schuebel, K., Yuan, Q., Martinez, P. E., Nieman, L. K., Rubinow, D. R., Schmidt, P. J., & Goldman, D. (2017). The ESC/E(Z) complex, an effector of response to ovarian steroids, manifests an intrinsic difference in cells from women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Mol Psychiatry, 22(8), 1172-1184. View



Schmidt, P. J., Martinez, P. E., Nieman, L. K., Koziol, D. E., Thompson, K. D., Schenkel, L., Wakim, P. G., & Rubinow, D. R. (2017). Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms Following Ovarian Suppression: Triggered by Change in Ovarian Steroid Levels But Not Continuous Stable Levels. Am J Psychiatry, 174(10), 980-989. View





How common is PMDD/PME?
Who does it affect?

Reilly, T. J., Patel, S., Unachukwu, I. C., Knox, C. L., Wilson, C. A., Craig, M. C., Schmalenberger, K. M., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., & Cullen, A. E. (2024). The prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord, 349, 534-540. View NEW!



Nolan, L. N., & Hughes, L. (2022). Premenstrual exacerbation of mental health disorders: a systematic review of prospective studies. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 25(5), 831-852. View



Gehlert, S., Song, I. H., Chang, C. H., & Hartlage, S. A. (2009). The prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a randomly selected group of urban and rural women. Psychol Med, 39(1), 129-136. View



Schmidt, P. J., Nieman, L. K., Danaceau, M. A., Adams, L. F., & Rubinow, D. R. (1998). Differential behavioral effects of gonadal steroids in women with and in those without premenstrual syndrome. N Engl J Med, 338(4), 209-216. View





Emotional and Social Impacts

Opatowski, M., ValdimarsdΓ³ttir, U. A., Oberg, A. S., Bertone-Johnson, E. R., & Lu, D. (2024). Mortality Risk Among Women With Premenstrual Disorders in Sweden. JAMA Network Open, 7(5), e2413394-e2413394. View NEW!



Westermark, V., Yang, Y., Bertone-Johnson, E., BrΓ€nn, E., Opatowski, M., Pedersen, N., ValdimarsdΓ³ttir, U. A., & Lu, D. (2024). Association between severe premenstrual disorders and change of romantic relationship: A prospective cohort of 15,606 women in Sweden. Journal of Affective Disorders, 364, 132-138. View NEW!



Hodgetts, S., & Kinghorn, A. (2025). Examining the impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) on life and relationship quality: An online cross-sectional survey study. PLoS One, 20(4), e0322314. View NEW!



Yu, H., Yang, Y., Hysaj, E., Nevriana, A., HΓ€gg, S., ValdimarsdΓ³ttir, U. A., Bertone-Johnson, E., & Lu, D. (2024). Premenstrual disorders and risk of sick leave and unemployment: a prospective cohort study of 15,857 women in Sweden. medRxiv. View Preprint



Halbreich, U., Borenstein, J., Pearlstein, T., & Kahn, L. S. (2003). The prevalence, impairment, impact, and burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 28 Suppl 3, 1-23. View





Treatment Options that Work

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Halbreich, U. (2008). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and initial oral contraceptives for the treatment of PMDD: effective but not enough. CNS Spectr, 13(7), 566-572. View



Jespersen, C., Lauritsen, M. P., Frokjaer, V. G., & Schroll, J. B. (2024). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(8). View NEW!



Hormone-Based Treatments

Rapkin, A. J., Korotkaya, Y., & Taylor, K. C. (2019). Contraception counseling for women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): current perspectives. Open Access J Contracept, 10, 27-39. View Contraceptives



Wyatt, K. M., Dimmock, P. W., Ismail, K. M., Jones, P. W., & O'Brien, P. M. (2004). The effectiveness of GnRHa with and without 'add-back' therapy in treating premenstrual syndrome: a meta analysis. Bjog, 111(6), 585-593. View Chemical menopause



Nguyen, T. V., Reuter, J. M., Gaikwad, N. W., Rotroff, D. M., Kucera, H. R., Motsinger-Reif, A., Smith, C. P., Nieman, L. K., Rubinow, D. R., Kaddurah-Daouk, R., & Schmidt, P. J. (2017). The steroid metabolome in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder during GnRH agonist-induced ovarian suppression: effects of estradiol and progesterone addback. Transl Psychiatry, 7(8), e1193. View Chemical menopause



Surgery for PMDD

Cronje, W. H., Vashisht, A., & Studd, J. W. (2004). Hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for severe premenstrual syndrome. Hum Reprod, 19(9), 2152-2155. View Surgical menopause



Other Treatments

Martinez, P. E., Rubinow, D. R., Nieman, L. K., Koziol, D. E., Morrow, A. L., Schiller, C. E., Cintron, D., Thompson, K. D., Khine, K. K., & Schmidt, P. J. (2016). 5Ξ±-Reductase Inhibition Prevents the Luteal Phase Increase in Plasma Allopregnanolone Levels and Mitigates Symptoms in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(4), 1093-1102. View Promising evidence



Weise, C., Kaiser, G., Janda, C., Kues, J. N., Andersson, G., Strahler, J., & Kleinstauber, M. (2019). Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention for Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychother Psychosom, 88(1), 16-29. View CBT





Professional Recommendations & Guidelines

Management of Premenstrual Syndrome. (2017). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 124(3), e73-e105. View



Management of Premenstrual Disorders: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 7. (2023). Obstet Gynecol, 142(6), 1516-1533. View



Wagner-Schuman, M., Kania, A., Barone, J. C., Ross, J. M., Mulvihill, A., & Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A. (2023). What's Stopping Us? Using GnRH Analogs With Stable Hormone Addback in Treatment-Resistant Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Practical Guidelines and Risk-Benefit Analysis for Long-term Therapy. J Clin Psychiatry, 84(4). View Chemical menopause