Social workers' knowledge of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): Implications for risk assessment practices with mothers

For some women, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and the more severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) (DSM-V), seriously impact their ability to cope with daily life. Approximately 3-9% of women struggle with PMDD, greater... [ view full abstract ]

For some women, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and the more severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) (DSM-V), seriously impact their ability to cope with daily life. Approximately 3-9% of women struggle with PMDD, greater than the incidence of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The impact of premenstrual disorders on women’s lives, and particularly parenting, is under-recognized by many helping professionals who assess mothers in voluntary and involuntary contexts. In the field of maltreatment, “false positive” assessments of mothers failing to address PMS/PMDD can overestimate risks to children during non-symptomatic weeks of the month. This can result in children being apprehended and mothers being needlessly traumatized in response to the symptoms of a treatable condition not present all the time. Conversely, if safety or risk is assessed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle when premenstrual symptoms are not present, mothers can be wrongly assessed as presenting no risk to their children, resulting in “false negative” conclusions with potentially tragic outcomes.

The objective of this session is to highlight the doctoral research results of the presenter in a practical manner, addressing premenstrual knowledge issues and implications for social work practice with mothers experiencing PMS/PMDD.

This exploratory study used a triangulated convergence design to generate complementary data from both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The results indicate that social workers with the greatest premenstrual knowledge had personally experienced PMS/PMDD, and also had the most severe symptoms. Only one mother reported having had a client voluntarily discuss PMS/PMDD and only 27 (5.1%) of 521 social workers initiated premenstrual inquiries in their assessments. It is currently not typical social work assessment practice to ask mothers about PMS/PMDD. Premenstrual knowledge and training were significantly associated with greater likelihood of inquiring about premenstrual experiences.