PMDD vs PMS: What Practitioners Need to Know About Hormonal vs Psychiatric Diagnoses

In this solo episode, Lisa explores the clinical differences between PMS and PMDD and breaks down a recent study that tested mood, cognition, and food intake across the menstrual cycle. She highlights major limitations in the study’s hormonal testing methods and challenges the psychiatric framing of PMDD as a purely serotonin-based disorder. If you work with clients experiencing debilitating premenstrual symptoms, this episode will help you contextualize mood shifts through a cycle-aware, practitioner-informed lens.

Timestamps

00:00 – What inspired today’s research spotlight on PMDD
05:15 – Study overview: mood, cognition, appetite changes in PMDD
13:40 – How the researchers measured ovulation and hormones
22:55 – The problem with “one-time” hormone testing
31:00 – The progesterone pattern in PMDD vs typical cycles
43:10 – Psychiatric interpretations vs hormone literacy
56:30 – Why proper charting matters in research and practice

Key Takeaways

PMDD vs PMS should be understood as a continuum of symptom severity, not entirely separate diagnoses
Research claiming “no hormonal link” often relies on single-day hormone tests, ignoring luteal phase fluctuations
Practitioners trained in fertility awareness can spot atypical progesterone patterns that correlate with PMDD symptoms
Understanding PMDD vs PMS helps clinicians support clients with chart-driven, hormone-aware solutions
The psychiatric model often overlooks the menstrual cycle as a diagnostic tool—charting fills this gap

Resources and Mentions

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Disclaimer

This podcast episode is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional with questions regarding your health or treatment.