In the years leading up to menopause, people may experience a variety of symptoms, including emotional changes such as depression. Now, a new study quantifies the risk of depression during the transition period known as perimenopause, during which women are about 40% more likely to experience mental health conditions than premenopausal women. This has been shown. “Perimenopausal women can suffer health challenges during this time,'' Amy Spector, Ph.D., corresponding author of the study published Tuesday in the Journal of Affective Disorders, said in a news release. “We need more awareness and support to ensure they receive the right help and care both medically, at work and at home.” Related video above: About managing symptoms of menopause Dr. Spector is also a professor of clinical psychology of aging in the Department of Medicine. Perimenopause usually occurs about 3 to 5 years before menopause. This day marks her 12 months without menstruation and marks the end of a woman's reproductive life. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, transition is a natural process caused by the gradual loss of function of the ovaries. During this period, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, which can cause mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, and other symptoms such as depression. The authors conducted this study, a review of seven studies involving a total of 9,141 women, to provide estimates of risk. Whether you develop clinically diagnosed depression or symptoms of depression at different stages of menopause. Women from the United States, Australia, China, the Netherlands, and Switzerland provided information about their mood and activity interests. The authors found no significant difference in the risk of depression in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women. “These findings are consistent with what is known about women's vulnerability to depressive symptoms during perimenopause, as shown in previous studies,” said Penny, Medical Director of the Menopause Society. and Bill George Board Member Dr. Stephanie Fabion said. For the Mayo Clinic Women's Health Center in Minnesota. Fabion was not involved in this study. A systematic review of the existing literature on perimenopausal depression is the driving force behind the 2018 Menopause Society recommendations for the assessment and treatment of depression during perimenopause. Cultural factors and lifestyle changes may be used to monitor mood during transition. It's difficult to explain the depressive symptoms women experience in the years before menopause, but data from global studies taken together shows the results aren't solely due to those factors, the study says. said lead author Yasmin Badawi. When she conducted her research, she was majoring in language science at University College London. Badawi is currently an Associate Postgraduate Mental Health Worker at Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust in London. “It appears that it is fluctuations in hormone levels, rather than absolute levels, that can cause these symptoms in vulnerable populations,” Fabion said. “A variety of other factors may also be at play, including genetics, environment, education level, access to care and other social determinants of health, and level of social support.” Estrogen is known to have the following effects: These risk factors affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, beta-endorphin, and serotonin, all of which are involved in emotional states, the authors say. Considering these risk factors, it is important for clinicians to be aware of the symptoms that women transitioning to menopause may experience. Fabion said she looks for depressive symptoms and major episodes and asks about the patient's mood. This is especially necessary if you have had mood-related problems in the past, such as depression or hormone-related mood problems such as those experienced during the premenstrual and postpartum stages. “Depression is a chronic disease that typically recurs throughout life,” Dr. Rebecca said. Thurston, chair of the Pittsburgh Foundation for Women's Health and Dementia at the University of Pittsburgh, was not involved in the study. “We know that these symptoms can snowball. If left untreated, they can become increasingly severe. “Knowing yourself about the early warning signs of depression symptoms can help you: Thurston, who is also a psychologist who treats depression in midlife women, said early treatment is needed. Physicians also need to develop and maintain relationships with mental health providers to whom they can refer patients diagnosed with depression. “We also recommend that doctors follow up with women to ensure they are receiving care,” she said. “Treatment of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes should also be considered if they significantly interfere with a woman's life.” Either pharmaceutical or evidence-based behavioral treatments are available in a variety of ways. It's possible, Thurston added, and women may need both. Previous research by the same authors found that mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective treatments for non-physical symptoms associated with menopause. Thurston also found that having close friends can act as a buffer against depressive episodes, as principal investigator of the National Longitudinal Study on the Transition to Midlife. It is called (SWAN).
In the years leading up to menopause, people may experience a variety of symptoms, including emotional changes such as depression. Now, a new study quantifies the risk of depression during the transition period known as perimenopause, finding that women in this stage are about 40% more likely to experience mental health conditions than premenopausal women. was shown.
“Our findings demonstrate how severely perimenopausal women's mental health is affected during this period,” said lead author of the study published Tuesday in the Journal of Affective Disorders. one Dr. Amy Specter said in a news release. “More awareness and support is needed to ensure they receive appropriate help and care both medically, at work and at home.”
Related video above: Doctors talk about managing menopause symptoms
Spector is also Professor of Clinical Psychology of Aging in the Department of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London.
Perimenopause usually occurs about 3 to 5 years before menopause. Menopause is the day that marks her 12 months without menstruation and marks the end of a woman's reproductive life. According to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, transition is a natural process caused by the gradual loss of function of the ovaries. During this period, estrogen and progesterone levels can fluctuate, causing mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, and other symptoms such as depression.
The authors conducted this study (which reviewed seven studies involving a total of 9,141 women) and determined that the risk of developing clinically diagnosed depression or depressive symptoms at different stages of menopause was provided estimates. Women from the United States, Australia, China, the Netherlands, and Switzerland provided information about their mood and activity interests.
The authors found no significant difference in the risk of depression between postmenopausal and premenopausal women.
“These findings are consistent with what is known about women's vulnerability to depressive symptoms during perimenopause, which has been shown in previous studies,” said Dr. said Dr. Stephanie Fabion, Penny and Bill George Director of the Disability Association. Mayo Clinic Women's Health Center in Minnesota. Fabion was not involved in this research.
A systematic review of the existing literature on perimenopausal depression is the driving force behind the Menopause Society's 2018 recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression.
Monitor mood during transition
Cultural factors and lifestyle changes are sometimes used to explain the depressive symptoms that women experience in the years before menopause, but data from a global study suggest that the findings are based solely on these factors. “This shows that the disease is not caused by the disease,” said Yasmin Badawi, lead author of the study. At the time she conducted her research, she was a master's student in the Department of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London. Ms Badawi currently works as an Associate Postgraduate Mental Health Worker at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust in London.
“It appears that it is fluctuations in hormone levels, rather than absolute levels, that can cause these symptoms in vulnerable populations,” Fabion said. “Also, a variety of factors may be at play, including genetics, environment, education level, access to care and other social determinants of health, and level of social support.”
As an example, estrogen is known to affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, beta-endorphin, and serotonin, all of which are involved in emotional states, the authors say.
Given these risk factors, it's important for clinicians to keep in mind that women transitioning to menopause can experience depressive symptoms and severe episodes, and to ask about their patients' moods, Fabion said. Ta. This is especially necessary if you have had mood-related problems in the past, such as depression or hormone-related mood problems experienced during the premenstrual or postpartum stages.
“Depression is a chronic disease that typically recurs throughout the lifespan,” said Dr. Rebecca Thurston, chair of the Pittsburgh Foundation for Women's Health and Dementia at the University of Pittsburgh. He was not involved in this research. “We know that these symptoms can snowball and become more severe if left untreated. It emphasizes the importance of
Thurston, who is also a psychologist who treats depression in midlife women, said knowing the early warning signs of a depressive episode in yourself can help with early treatment. Physicians must then develop and maintain relationships with mental health providers to whom they can refer patients diagnosed with depression.
“We also recommend that women follow up with their doctors to ensure they are receiving care,” she says. “If it seriously interferes with a woman's daily life, treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes should also be considered.”
There are a variety of drug treatments and evidence-based behavioral treatments, and women may need both, Thurston added. Previous research by the same authors found that mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective treatments for non-physical symptoms associated with menopause.
And having close friends can be a buffer against depressive episodes, says Thurston, who is the principal investigator of the National Longitudinal Study of the Midlife Transition called the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). discovered.
