PMDD: A Guide to Coping with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

An expert on women's health and a clinical psychologist team up to offer the first self-care guide for the millions of women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a newly classified mood disorder. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe and debilitating premenstrual mood disturbance with a wide variety of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, moodiness, lack of interest in life, tearfulness, tenseness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, change in appetite, anger, sleep disturbance, weight gain, muscle and joint pain, and suicidal thoughts. Frequently misdiagnosed as severe PMS, PMDD is most likely due to a high sensitivity to the interaction of hormones. Although it has recently been classified as a distinct psychiatric disorder, up to now information about the condition has been scattered across a variety of often conflicting sources, including popular magazines and medical journals and websites and chat rooms. PMDD is a pioneering guide for women who want authoritative advice from a medical professional on this controversial topic. Women's health expert Dr. James E. Huston and clinical psychologist Lani C.Fujitsubo team up to define PMDD, show the necessary criteria for diagnosis, and discuss the medical and self-help interventions that are known to be helpful. They explain aggravating factors, suggest alternative strategies, and offer step-by-step, cognitive-behavioural interventions that can be used to control symptoms and progress toward greater mood stability.