Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Improving Recognition and Treatment in Mental Health Care Settings
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Improving Recognition and Treatment in Mental Health Care Settings
Early Registration rate available through January 23, 2026
FEBRUARY 13, 2026
12-1:00 PM
Live webinar by Zoom
This presentation will provide an in-depth clinical overview of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), emphasizing neurobiological underpinnings, diagnostic assessment and challenges, and treatment implications for practicing mental health clinicians. PMDD has only been formally included in the DSM-5 since 2013, contributing to its under-recognition across the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and medicine. PMDD is a cyclical, hormone-triggered mood disorder affecting approximately 5-6% of women / individuals assigned female at birth and is characterized by severe affective, cognitive, and physical symptoms during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Despite its prevalence and severity, including high rates of suicidality, patients often experience prolonged delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis. The presentation will include an overview of the current understanding of the neurobiology of PMDD, highlighting altered central nervous system sensitivity to normal hormonal fluctuations. Finally, a comprehensive review of evidence-based treatment approaches will be provided. This presentation will underscore the essential role of mental health clinicians in recognizing PMDD, conducting thorough assessments, collaborating with medical providers, and adapting counseling interventions to effectively respond to PMDD-specific symptom patterns.
Learning Objectives
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
Differentiate Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) from Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME) using core diagnostic features and symptom timing across the menstrual cycle.
Describe key neurobiological mechanisms underlying PMDD, including altered central nervous system sensitivity to normal hormonal fluctuations.
Identify evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies, including ways mental health care can be adapted in the context of PMDD.
Presenter Bio:
Amber Cahill, PsyD is an Assistant Professor in the UMass Chan Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Associate Director of the Center for Integrated Primary Care. She is currently a Bloomberg Fellow in the Addiction & Overdose track at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Cahill has provided clinical care in primary care settings since 2013 and currently serves as Director of Behavioral Science for the Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, where she leads behavioral science curriculum development focused on mental health, substance use, and health behavior change in primary care. Her clinical and academic interests include integrated primary care, training primary care clinicians and teams in comprehensive mental health care, expanding treatment of SUD in primary care, enhancing SUD training in medical education, harm reduction-informed care, and the intersection of hormones and mental health including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, PMDD, and perimenopause/menopause related mental health. Dr. Cahill completed internship training at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center in the primary care/health psychology track and went on to complete a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at the UMass Chan Medical School in primary care, health psychology, and medical education. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Adler University in 2014 with a concentration in primary care and behavioral medicine.
