WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsWomen May Suffer from PMDD Without Knowing It

Women May Suffer from PMDD Without Knowing It

(NBC/WRCB) - The discomfort of PMS is likely not lost on any woman of child bearing age, but now psychologists say some women really do have it worse than others. It's called PMDD, which stands for pre-menstral dysphoric disorder.

Dr. Carol Bernstein, from the American Psychiatric Association says "It's different from PMS. That we are not talking about something every woman has."

The symptoms of PMDD May sound familiar: anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating. Bernstein says with PMDD those same symptoms are so severe it can be emotionally paralyzing.

"What one should be looking for in PMDD is how seriously those symptoms interfere with someone's capacity to function," said Bernstein. "Are they getting into trouble in relationships? Are they getting into trouble at work?"

PMDD Is actually not considered an official psychiatric disorder yet. Researchers are still trying to figure out whether this is only happening to women who have psychological problems and have more severe problems during their period, or if otherwise perfectly happy women are suddenly becoming dysfunctional during that time of the month. If you have questions start by checking with your local doctor

"Between 3 to 5 percent of women may have this syndrome, but again we don't know yet what percentage of that group has this disorder alone," said Bernstein.

Researchers expect to have an answer in the next few years. In the meantime, Bernstein encourages women to get checked out. Treatment can include a combination of anti-depressant drugs and behavioral therapy.