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Anxiety and depression before and after the menopause
N Sagsöz1, O Oguztürk, M Bayram
1Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aydinlikevler, Ankara, Turkey. nsagsoz@isbank.net.tr
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Menopausal women exhibit significantly higher depression rates compared to premenopausal women. Anxiety levels did not differ significantly between groups, but anxiety and depression were positively correlated.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Menopause is a natural biological transition associated with various physical and psychological changes.
- Anxiety and depression are common mental health concerns that may be influenced by hormonal shifts during menopause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the prevalence of anxiety and depression in postmenopausal women versus premenopausal women.
- To explore potential correlations between anxiety, depression, and hormonal levels (FSH, LH, E2) in these groups.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 32 postmenopausal and 32 premenopausal women (aged 40-55).
- Assessment using the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) I and II.
- Statistical analysis included Student's t-test and Pearson correlation, with blood sample analysis for hormonal levels.
Main Results:
- Postmenopausal women showed significantly higher depression scores (21.3 ± 6.7) than premenopausal women (15.1 ± 5.6; p < 0.001).
- No significant differences in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were found between the groups (STAI-I: p = 0.19; STAI-II: p = 0.33).
- Depression correlated positively with parity (r = 0.423, p = 0.01) and anxiety scores (r = 0.489, p = 0.01 for STAI-I; r = 0.398, p = 0.01 for STAI-II). No correlation was found with FSH, LH, or E2 levels.
Conclusions:
- Postmenopausal women experience a significantly higher rate of depression.
- While anxiety levels may not differ significantly, a strong positive correlation exists between anxiety and depression symptoms in women of this age group.