Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is an illness associated with the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. It is characterized by severe irritability, anxiety and anger. It is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but differs from it in severity and in that it requires treatment, because it interferes in a woman's ability to function in her environment. It has been proposed as a disorder requiring further study by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-IV-TR. PMDD is accepted as illness by the FDA but is not listed as a separate disorder in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases. There is some question as to whether PMDD has been "marketed" by pharmaceutical companies in order to increase the demand for treatments.

The cause of PMDD is not known, but several theories exist. One theory suggests it is due to the lack of serotonin (a neurotransmitter in the brain) and mediated by the levels of the level of sex hormones (progesterone and estrogen) in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. A common treatment for PMDD is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), specially fluoxetine (Sarafem, also known as Prozac).