More than Mood – Understanding PMDD - October 2026

Capability level: Emerging, Evolving, Established

Event description:

Seventy-two percent of people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) report lifetime suicidal ideation — a statistic that should stop every social worker in their tracks (Eisenlohr-Moul et al., 2022). Yet PMDD remains one of the most under-recognised, under-assessed, and under-referred conditions in Australian social work practice. Many practitioners will encounter women with PMDD every week without knowing it — and for ADHD & autistic women, the risks are even greater.

PMDD is not 'bad PMS.' It is a DSM-5 classified depressive disorder — characterised by severe mood, cognitive, and physical challenges that emerge cyclically in the premenstrual phase and resolve with menstruation. It significantly impairs occupational, social, and relational functioning. And it is manageable, when correctly identified and supported.

This accessible, evidence-informed, 1.5-hour webinar provides social workers with a clinically grounded introduction to PMDD through a neurodivergent lens: what it is, how to recognise it — particularly in ADHD & autistic women and AFAB individuals — what to do when you do, and how to support clients in accessing appropriate care. Presenter Karise McNamee — a Counselling Social Worker, PhD researcher, and person with lived experience of PMDD, ADHD, and autism — delivers content that is both scientifically robust and practice-relevant.

* This webinar focuses on women and people assigned female at birth, whose diagnostic journeys were shaped by female socialisation and gender-biased clinical frameworks.

This webinar will cover:

• DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PMDD: distinguishing it from PMS, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder
• The clinical and human reality of PMDD: prevalence, functional impairment, mental health risks including suicidality, and lived experience
• PMDD, ADHD, and autism: the evidence for neurodivergent vulnerability to hormonal mood disorders and why this matters for social workers (Dorani et al., 2021; Quinn et al., 2020)
• Assessment approaches: what to ask, how to ask it, and tools that support accurate screening and prospective tracking
• Evidence-based management options: SSRIs; over-the-counter, pharmaceutical and hormonal interventions, lifestyle strategies, and what the research shows (Marjoribanks et al., 2013)
• Practical strategies and templates social workers can share with clients: cycle tracking, the RED/YELLOW/GREEN framework, safety planning, and self-advocacy scripts for healthcare appointments
• Referral pathways: who treats PMDD in Australia, what to look for in an informed practitioner, and the red flags of inadequate care

Who should attend?

This webinar is designed for social workers at the Emerging and Evolving proficiency levels, as well as social workers who hold Established-level experience in related fields (mental health, women's health, disability) who are new to PMDD specifically.

It is well suited to practitioners across mental health, primary health care, community services, child protection, domestic and family violence services, disability, and private practice — anywhere that menstruating individuals are part of the client or community group.

No prior knowledge of PMDD is required. Participants should hold foundational knowledge of mental health assessment within the social work role, and a general understanding of women’s mental health issues. This webinar is introductory in scope and is designed as a starting point rather than a comprehensive skills-building program. For deeper skills development, participants are encouraged to enrol in the 3-hour companion workshop ‘The Full Picture: ADHD, Autism & Women’s Hormonal Health.’

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PMDD and distinguish it from clinically similar presentations including PMS, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder
• Recognise indicators of PMDD in a social work assessment context and formulate an appropriate response, including safety assessment and “Help Me Stay” planning when cyclical suicidal ideation is present
• Describe the evidence for the ADHD–PMDD and autism–PMDD associations and explain why these co-occurrences have implications for assessment, case planning, and referral in social work practice
• Apply at least one validated screening or tracking tool — including the IAPMD self-screen or cycle tracking chart — to support a client's engagement with PMDD assessment
• Identify evidence-based treatment and management options for PMDD and articulate a referral pathway appropriate to the Australian healthcare context

Event structure:

Introduction (5 minutes)

Learning Session 1: What Is PMDD?

• Defining and understanding PMDD

Learning Session 2: PMDD and Mental Health Risk

• Clinical implications for social work

Learning Session 3: Assessment and Practice Tools

• What to ask, when to ask it, how to document

Learning Session 4: Evidence-Based Management and Referral

• What the evidence supports

Conclusion + Q&A (15 minutes)

Can't attend live? Your registration includes a copy of the presentation slides and 2 weeks' free access to the event recording.

AASW Credentials: Mental Health (FPS), Clinical SW

FPS Psychoeducation will be incorporated in this workshop and falls under a. Psychoeducation of Medicare schedule (https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=MN.7.4&qt=noteID&criteria=MN%2E7%2E4)

In the event of an audit, it is the member’s responsibility to clearly demonstrate how this FPS training is relevant to the delivery of FPS in their specific work context.