City Research Online

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition that affects 1.6% of women (Reilly et al., 2024). It is defined as a cyclical hormonal disorder that includes emotional and physical symptoms and treatment options are limited. Women face long journeys to diagnosis including frequent misdiagnosis and misunderstanding of their premenstrual symptoms. More needs to be explored about women’s experiences of living with PMDD to enrich our understanding of both the individual experience and the wider impact to inform how we support women living with this condition.

Aim: To explore women’s experiences of living with PMDD and consider the clinical implications of the study’s findings.

Method: Seven women with a diagnosis of PMDD were interviewed and asked to complete written diaries. Women were aged between 18-37 years old. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and combined with the diary data, before being analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four group experiential themes emerged from the data.

Results: The four group experiential themes each cover different elements of the experience of living with PMDD while also overlapping in ways. ‘Making sense of PMDD: a journey of discovery’ explores the journey that women went on as part of receiving their diagnosis of PMDD. ‘PMDD and relationships: unheard, dismissed and judged’ describes participants’ experiences of feeling unsupported by professionals when seeking care and by friends and family when seeking support. ‘The impossible battle’ describes participants’ experiences of the day-to-day dealings with PMDD and the impact this has on them. ‘Getting through it: finding ways to manage’ describes how participants have found different ways to cope with the challenges they face with PMDD.

Conclusion: This study’s findings indicate that living with PMDD is a complex and overwhelming experience. Diagnosis provides some relief for women but does not have a long-lasting impact in isolation given the lack of appropriate support available. Further research is necessary to understand what support women living with PMDD need. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Psychology & Neuroscience School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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