pmdd, which stands for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, can be described as a more intense form of premenstrual syndrome (pms), that typically affects women of childbearing age. this condition is marked by a set of distinctive symptoms, which include mood swings, irritability, and emotional reactivity in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, typically one to two weeks before the menstrual period begins and resolve within a few days postmenses. pmdd is different from bipolar disorder, a mental health condition characterized by distinct episodes of mania and depression, with periods of relatively stable mood in between these episodes. bipolar disorder involves significant and sustained changes in mood, energy levels, behavior, and function, and can significantly interfere with a person's ability to carry out daily activities.
both pmdd and bipolar disorder have periods of extreme mood shifts, but pmdd symptoms are directly linked to a woman's menstrual cycle, whereas symptoms of bipolar disorder are not tightly linked to any regular body cycle. furthermore, women with Bipolar II disorder may experience more premenstrual exacerbation and women with Bipolar III disorder may have no premenstrual symptoms. in contrast, women with PMDD report higher rates of comorbidity, including anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, than women without pmdd [6][8]. individuals with pmdd also report higher rates of suicide attempts compared to women without pmdd, [11] with an incidence rate of 1 case per 100,000 people in china according to the 2014 data [3]. in conclusion, pmdd is a valid psychiatric diagnosis with distinct clinical features and outcomes, and it should be recognized and treated as a distinct entity from bipolar disorder.
