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Review| Volume 1, ISSUE 4, P301-315, June 1979

Changes in psychological well-being during postmenopause as a result of estrogen therapy

  • N. Durst
    Correspondence
    Address for reprints: N. Durst, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, P.O. Box 72, Petach Tikva, Israel.
    Affiliations
    Geha Psychiatric Hospital; Beilinson Medical Centre; Tel Aviv University Medical School; The William S. Schwarz Institute for Psychiatric Research and Treatment; Tel Aviv, Israel
    Search for articles by this author
  • B. Maoz
    Affiliations
    Geha Psychiatric Hospital; Beilinson Medical Centre; Tel Aviv University Medical School; The William S. Schwarz Institute for Psychiatric Research and Treatment; Tel Aviv, Israel
    Search for articles by this author
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      Abstract

      A study of the effects of a conjugated estrogen (Femipren) upon various climacteric symptoms, depression and anxiety scores and psycho-social factors in 120 women around the menopause, was carried out in a Menopause Clinic.
      In order to participate in this study, the women had to meet very strict criteria. A climacteric symptom list, the MMPI and a psycho-social questionnaire were used for assessment, and were employed before, during and at the end of 1 yr of hormone replacement therapy.
      Typical vasomotor and psychic symptoms changed significantly as did such factors as self-image, optimism, perception of the future and satisfaction with personal appearance, in those patients who received hormonal replacement therapy for 1 yr. As the psychological factors changed only in those patients who received long-term estrogen therapy, a tentative hypothesis of direct psychotropic effect of estrogen was formulated.

      Keywords

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