International Association for Premenstrual Disorders

IAPMD seeks to fill in the gaps before, between, and after professional care and/or crisis intervention; increase patient and provider awareness and understanding of PMDs; advance research in PMDs in a variety of critical areas, including a basic understanding of the disorder, support and advocacy, and evidence-based clinical management; and expand IAPMD's role and influence with policymakers to eliminate cyclical hormone-induced psychiatric disorders as a global health problem.

Education & Awareness program includes free tools and resources, webinars, conferences, translational research, and social media. IAPMD utilizes evidence-based research and methods to deliver the latest information to patients, providers, and caregivers to improve rates of diagnosis and patient outcomes. In 2018, 90k unique visitors accessed the iapmd.org website for information on PMDs, 188 individuals attended the 2018 PMDD Annual Conference, and 27.3K individuals watched our pre-recorded webinars on YouTube. IAPMD recently launched a repository of scientific papers for researchers and provider tools, and launched a surgical menopause campaign for those facing the last line-treatment option for PMDD.

Care & Support includes peer support, crisis intervention, provider referrals, suicide prevention, and telecare. This program focuses on minimizing impairment, impact, and burden of PMDs. The IAPMD peer support team provides free and confidential support to over 100 individuals each month and our virtual peer support groups host over 8,000 members. In 2018, 12 new peer support volunteers were trained to provide support and over 9336 free tools and resources were downloaded from iapmd.org. 1189 individual peer support sessions were provided in 2018 while 6,485 searches for doctors were completed in our peer-recommended provider directory.

Research focuses on the creative and systematic work of PMD researchers to learn more about PMD in regards to cellular genetic and environmental effects of the disorders. In 2018, IAPMD partnered with Vicious Cycle and Me v PMDD to conduct the largest ever community survey which assessed a variety of factors impacting the PMD community. Initial findings report that in our sample of 1,425 patients with prospectively-confirmed PMD, 19.2% had been hospitalized during a PMD episode; and 30% reported having made a suicide attempt. Of this same sample, 85% have experienced passive suicidal ideation (i.e., desire to die), 70% have experienced active suicidal ideation (i.e., desire to kill onself), 39% have made a suicide plan, and 31% have engaged in behaviors to prepare to make a suicide attempt (e.g., collecting pills, writing a note). These findings will be published in 2019 and will highly influence our suicide prevention aims within this population.

A 2018 survey of 100 IAPMD community members rated Care & Support as the number one priority (34%) followed closely by Research & Prevention (28.9%), Education & Awareness (27.8%).

Since 2013, IAPMD has become the global leader in Premenstrual Disorder (PMD) support, education, and advocacy. What started as a patient-led organization intended to raise awareness of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder has grown into a collaborative initiative between providers, patients, families, and caregivers to ensure those battling PMDs are met with understanding, compassion, care, and evidence-based information.

In 2014:

• NAPMDD began an online peer support program via Facebook for women and partners seeking advice on managing symptoms. NAPMDD also received it's 501(c)3 standing in the United States.

In 2015:

• NAPMDD invited members of the PMDD patient community to establish an awareness ribbon. The ribbon can now be found all over the web as a sign of awareness and recognition to those living with PMDD.

• NAPMDD Peer Support Program expanded to include a toll-free number for patients to call and receive one-on-one peer support. Our peer support program helps an estimated 40 women and partners in need each month. Our social media education and awareness posts receive above 12,000 views each week.

• NAPMDD hosted the first PMDD National Conference for women and caregivers. Guests were able to attend in person and online to (1) connect with other sufferers for support and (2) receive information on treatment options and coping techniques. The second conference will be held in September 2016 and is expanding to include research reviews and clinical training.

In 2016:

• NAPMDD assisted the Gia Allemand Foundation in raising $75,846 in the Revlon Love is On $1 Million Challenge. Funds are being utilized for general support of the foundation and research.

In 2017:

• NAPMDD merged with Gia Allemand Foundation INC to form Gia Allemand Foundation.

In 2018:

• Gia Allemand Foundation becomes IAPMD In an effort to better serve Premenstrual Disorder (PMD) communities around the world.

• IAPMD provides group peer support to over 8,000 individuals around the world in addition to 1,200 individual peer support sessions annually.

• Over 142K unique visitors access IAPMD website for free tools, information, resources, and support.

In 2019:

• IAPMD completes its 2019-2021 Strategic Plan.

In 2020:
- IAPMD hosts the first-ever 'Ignite Your Fight' Virtual Race to raise awareness of PMDD. 78 runners participated from around the world!
- Thirty-three buildings and bridges ignite teal for PMDD Awareness Month in 2020 - a beacon of hope!
- IAPMD welcomes Grace Gonzalez and Destiny Kidd-Gilchrist as our first Ambassadors to join the team.