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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

During the last week before menstruating, for most of the menstrual cycles occurring during the course of a year, there have been at least five of the following symptoms which have disappeared shortly after commencing menstruation:

  • Significantly low mood;
  • Marked anxiety or a feeling of being on edge;
  • Fluctuating moods - suddenly feeling sad, rejected or tearful;
  • Feeling persistently angry or irritable;
  • Loss of interests in usual activities;
  • Difficulty concentrating;
  • Decreased energy or feeling of fatigue;
  • Altered appetite, usually increased with cravings;
  • Significantly increased or decreased sleep;
  • A feeling of being out of control;
  • Physical symptoms such as abdominal bloating, headaches, breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain and weight gain.

In order for the problem to be considered a disorder there has to be a significant disturbance in functioning.

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