Depression More Likely to Occur During Menopause Transition

Recent research has found that depression is more likely to occur during the menopause transition than before or after.

A study showing that depression is more likely to occur during the menopause transition (Perimenopause) than before or after menopause has been published in the Affective Disorders Journal.

The research team estimated the risk of clinical depression and depressive symptoms according to the menopause stage for a total of 11,965 participants after conducting a Meta Platforms, Inc. analysis of seven papers.

The papers analyzed by the research team were peer-reviewed longitudinal prospective studies. The research was conducted with subjects of women aged 18 and above who were in pre-menopause, post-menopause, or menopause transition, compared the differences at each menopause stage, and evaluated depressive symptoms using a standard scale.

The research team compared the mental health of women in the pre and post-menopause stages, and during the menopause transition, using each woman’s history as a control group. The study found that depression was more likely to occur in women during the menopause transition than after menopause.

The research team explained that depression and anxiety commonly occur during and after menopause, and vasomotor symptoms and a history of major depression increase the risk of menopause-related depression.

Experts stated that the menopause transition is a vulnerable period for depression, and some women may show psychological and biological changes in response to hormone changes. The researchers concluded that diagnosing women in the menopause transition by paying attention to menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, low libido, and mood changes, and conducting depression screening tests are demanded.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depressive symptoms that appear during the menopause transition include: sadness not caused by a specific event or one’s actions, anxiety or hypersensitivity, feelings of despair, worthlessness, and powerlessness, loss of interest and happiness in hobbies, fatigue, loss of motivation, difficulty in concentration, memory, and decision-making, changes in sleep or appetite, physical pain without a clear cause, and thoughts of death, suicide, or suicide attempts.

Experts recommend considering menopause transition when treating women aged 40-60 who complain of depressive symptoms. However, rather than overly focusing on menopause as a factor of depression, consultants should listen to each woman’s medical history and help them get appropriate treatment.