Does PMDD Belong in the DSM? Challenging the Medicalization of Women's Bodies‪.‬

Abstract: Many believe in the existence of a class of symptoms experienced prior to menses labelled as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), however, the research findings on PMDD have been tenuous. In this paper, the validity and utility of the PMDD diagnosis is" called into question and it is argued that PMDD is a socially constructed diagnosis rather than a psychiatric disorder. The distinction between physiological experiences and pathology is investigated in addition to the implications of a PMDD diagnosis for patients, clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Finally, the paper explores the relation between PMDD and sexuality offering an additional voice in the developing discourse on the medicalization of women's experiences of sexuality. Key words: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Women's bodies DSM Sexuality Social construction