Menstruation Marks Monthly Madness

According to the diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM), menstruating women everywhere are, indeed, going mad monthly. 

When my professor read the clinical definition of PMS aloud in my mental health class this week I couldn’t resist the urge to post it. The notion of problematic PMS psychosis provides the foundation for which the title and concept of this blog was developed, after all. After reading the below definition; however, I see very few differences between PMS and a multi-day hangover. So why do bitchy bleeding women get such a bad rap? In fact, the self-inflicted nature of repeated substance induced fun seems to me a more appropriate recipient of the clinical mental disorder terminology?

So girls. Let’s lose the stigma. When the last week of your luteal phase is approaching (approx. 21 days after the first day of your period for those with an average cycle – see diagram below), gather some girls and go have some fun. Several days of it.

I wonder what the diagnostic manual of mental disorders would think about that? 

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV): Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), otherwise known as severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

A.      In most menstrual cycles during the past, five (or more) of the following symptoms were present for most of the time during the last week of the luteal phase, began to remit within a few days after the onset of the follicular phase, and were absent in the week post-menses, with at least one of the symptoms being either (1), (2), (3) or (4):

(1) Markedly depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness or self-deprecating thoughts
(2) Marked anxiety, tension, feelings of being "keyed up" or "on edge"
(3) Marked affective lability (e.g., feeling suddenly sad or tearful or increased sensitivity to rejection)
(4) Persistent and marked anger or irritability or increased interpersonal conflicts
(5) Decreased interest in usual activities (e.g., work, school, friends, hobbies)
(6) Subjective sense of difficulty in concentrating
(7) Lethargy, easy fatigability or marked lack of energy
(8) Marked change in appetite, overeating or specific food cravings
(9) Hypersomnia or insomnia
(10) Other physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness or swelling, headaches, joint or muscle pain, a sensation of "bloating", weight gain
B.     The disturbance markedly interferes with work or school or with usual social activities and relationships with others (e.g., avoidance of social activities, decreased productivity and efficiency at work or school)
C.    The disturbance is not merely an exacerbation of the symptoms of another disorder, such as major depressive disorder, panic disorder, dysthymic disorder or a personality disorder (although it may be superimposed on any other disorder) 
D.    Criteria A, B and C must be confirmed by prospective daily ratings during at least two consecutive symptomatic cycles (the diagnosis may be made provisionally prior to this confirmation)