Premenstrual Disorders: A Primer and Research Agenda for Psychologists

Females are two times more likely to develop an affective disorder and three times more likely to make a suicide attempt. The etiology of these sex differences is complex, and cannot be reduced to biology alone. However, the growing field of reproductive mood disorders highlights how lifetime exposure to fluctuations in neuroactive sex hormones (including across the menstrual cycle) do contribute to greater female risk, specifically among those females who are neurobiologically sensitive to normal hormone changes (e.g., those with premenstrual disorders). Psychologists--and particularly clinical psychologists-- are trained to be expert in skills relevant to the study and treatment of premenstrual disorders, including assessment, differential diagnosis, and mechanisms of complex behaviors, and often develop other relevant expertise in the neurobiology of affective disorders and advanced longitudinal methods. The purpose of this article is to clarify how psychologists’ strengths can be readily applied to advance scientific knowledge and improve patient care in premenstrual disorders. In order to increase psychologist involvement in this emerging field, this article includes a primer on premenstrual disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of underlying disorders. It then provides recommendations for research psychologists interested in engaging this field, and outlines critical research areas for future work. Finally, brief recommendations for psychologists in clinical practice are provided.