What does “evidence-based” mean?
Evidence-based practice involves intentionally using the most current and reliable research to guide decisions about patient care. Typically, experts review and compare all available treatment studies for a specific disorder to identify those best supported by the overall scientific evidence. Because individual studies can be unreliable, evidence-based practice relies on the collective strength of multiple studies rather than just one.
IAPMD is dedicated to providing patients with unbiased, evidence-based information to help them make informed decisions.
Evidence-based practice involves the incorporation of three components to improve outcomes and quality of life:
Systematic Reviews
A systematic review is a scientific paper that summarizes all the research done on a specific topic. To create one, a scientist uses carefully chosen search terms to find relevant studies in databases like Google Scholar. They then read and analyze these papers to tell a clear story about what the research shows, such as common findings, trends, and whether independent studies agree. The review also evaluates the quality of the studies and highlights which results are most trustworthy. Ultimately, systematic reviews help scientists and healthcare professionals quickly grasp the overall state of research without having to read every individual study.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
In treatment research, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a study in which participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receives the treatment being tested. At the same time, the other serves as a comparison or control and receives either an alternative treatment or a placebo (an inactive substance). RCTs are considered the gold standard for evaluating treatment effectiveness because their design minimizes the risk of bias and reduces the influence of confounding factors on the results.
Best Practices and Clinical Guidelines to Change Clinical Care
Best practice and clinical practice guidelines are specialized systematic reviews designed specifically for doctors and healthcare providers. Their purpose is to help clinicians make well-informed decisions about the most appropriate treatments for their patients. These guidelines often include practical clinical details, such as recommended starting doses for medications. Typically, they review clinical trials and offer a ranked list of treatment options—what to try first, second, third, and so forth. When high-quality studies are limited, guidelines may instead rely on professional consensus and the collective clinical experience of healthcare providers.
For some treatments, such as supplements, sufficient research may not yet be available, and in those cases, evidence-based guidance may be lacking.
🧬 How do we define “quality” research?
To consider a PMD treatment effective, there must be at least one randomized controlled trial demonstrating that the treatment outperforms an inactive placebo. Additionally, the participants in the study must have been diagnosed using the proper method—daily symptom ratings recorded over a minimum of two months.
This rigorous approach is necessary because research shows that relying on retrospective recall of premenstrual symptoms leads to a high false-positive rate. In fact, about 60% of individuals identified as having PMDD through retrospective measures do not show significant cyclical mood changes when their daily ratings are examined. Such false-positive bias can compromise the quality of research findings.
✍️ Who wrote this information, and how do I know it is unbiased?
We always encourage patients to verify that their sources of information are reliable, high-quality, and unbiased. The IAPMD Clinical Advisory Board carefully prepared the patient and provider treatment guides, and more detailed information is available in our interactive eBook.
None of the expert volunteers who contributed to this document has financial ties or affiliations with companies producing the medications mentioned. All experts generously volunteered their time, with the sole purpose of providing patients with the most accurate and trustworthy information possible.
IAPMD is dedicated to regularly reviewing scientific research to ensure patients receive unbiased, evidence-based information about treatment options. This empowers them to make informed decisions that increase their chances of relief.