There are no laboratory tests or unique physical findings to verify the diagnosis of<unk> . The three key features are: * The chief complaint is one or more of the emotional symptoms associated with<unk> . Irritability, tension, or unhappiness are typical emotional symptoms. * Symptoms appear predictably during the luteal (premenstrual) phase, reduce or disappear predictably shortly before or during menstruation, and remain absent during the follicular (preovulatory) phase. * The symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with the woman's everyday life. Mild<unk>  is common, and more severe symptoms would qualify as PMDD.<unk>  is not listed in the DSM-IV, unlike PMDD. To document a pattern and determine if it is PMDD, potentially affected women may keep a prospective record of their symptoms on a calendar for at least two menstrual cycles. This will help to establish if the symptoms are, indeed, limited to the premenstrual time, predictably recurring, and disruptive to normal functioning. A number of standardized instruments have been developed to describe<unk> , including the Calendar of<unk>  Experiences (COPE), the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstruation (PRISM), and the Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Other conditions that may better explain symptoms must be excluded. A number of medical conditions are subject to exacerbation at menstruation, a process called menstrual magnification. These conditions may lead women who do not have<unk>  to incorrectly believe that they have<unk> , when the underlying disorder is some other medical problem, such as anemia, hypothyroidism, eating disorders and substance abuse. A key feature is that these conditions may also be present outside of the luteal phase. Conditions that can be magnified perimenstrually include depression or other affective disorders, migraine, seizure disorders, fatigue, irritable bowel<unk> , asthma, and allergies. Problems with other aspects of the female reproductive system must be excluded, including dysmenorrhea (pain during the menstrual period, rather than before it), endometriosis, perimenopause, and adverse effects produced by oral contraceptive pills. The National Institute of Mental Health research definition compares the intensity of symptoms from cycle days 5 to 10 to the six-day interval before the onset of the menstrual period. To qualify as<unk> , symptom intensity must increase at least 30% in the six days before menstruation. Additionally, this pattern must be documented for at least two consecutive cycles.
Premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Menstrual disorder
Postpartum depression
Postmenopausal confusion
Postpartum disorder
Lactational amenorrhea
Female hysteria