Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study is to determine if the depression in perimenopausal women is
symptomatologically different than depression in premenopausal women, and if these
depressive women are under more risk for depression when factors like premenstrual
dysphoric syndrome, socio-economical status, vasomotor symptoms and familial inclination
to depression are considered.
Methods
Fifty major depressive women with hormonally established perimenopause (follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) levels over 20 IU/l and estrogen levels lower than 40 IU/l) and who were not taking any psychotropic or hormone replacement therapy, were
enrolled in the study. In order to investigate the characteristic clinical features
of perimenopausal depression, a drug free control group consisting of 48 pre-perimenopausal
women with a diagnosis of major depression was formed. Another control group was formed
with 53 non-depressive perimenopausal women in order to investigate the risk factors
of perimenopausal depression.
Results
The depressive and non-depressive groups did not differ from each other according
to level of education, marital and economical status and comorbid physical problems.
No major symptomatological difference between perimenopausal depression and pre-perimenopausal
depression was found. No correlation was found between the severity of vasomotor symptoms
and severity of depression.
Conclusions
Findings of our study suggest that vasomotor symptoms and socio-economical status
do not predict the severity and existence of perimenopausal depression. Episodes of
major depression are not necessarily the normal result of such vasomotor symptoms.
Therefore, the evaluation and management of perimenopausal depression should be carried
out as carefully as is done in episodes of depression seen in the rest of women's
life span.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 8,
2006
Received in revised form:
February 7,
2006
Received:
September 27,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
