Prevalence of hormone replacement therapy and antidepressant use in peri- and postmenopausal women

To examine the prevalence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and antidepressant use in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Prevalence survey.

Peri- and postmenopausal outpatients (N = 253) at five medical clinics.

Participants completed a 47-item questionnaire requesting information on mood changes associated with menstruation, childbirth, oral contraceptive use, and menopause. Peri- and postmenopausal participants were asked to rate the severity of dysphoric symptoms experienced during the menopausal transition and to specify whether HRT, antianxiety medication, or antidepressant medication relieved the symptoms.

Forty percent of respondents experienced more severe depression than anticipated during menopause, but only 8% were treated with antidepressants. Forty-six percent of respondents were treated with HRT.

The data suggest that antidepressant and antianxiety medications are more helpful than HRT in relieving peri- and postmenopausal depression or anxiety. However, most women managed the mood changes associated with menopause without psychopharmacologic intervention. This is consistent with other reports on the transitory nature of peri- and postmenopausal depression for most women.