Toward the Reliable Diagnosis of DSM-5 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: The Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System (C-PASS)

Despite evidence for the validity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and its recent inclusion in DSM-5, variable diagnostic practices compromise the construct validity of the diagnosis and threaten the clarity of efforts to understand and treat its underlying pathophysiology. In an effort to hasten and streamline the translation of the new DSM-5 criteria for PMDD into terms compatible with existing research practices, we present the development and initial validation of the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System (C-PASS). The C-PASS is a standardized scoring system for making DSM-5 PMDD diagnoses using 2 or more menstrual cycles of daily symptom ratings using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP)