Mood modifications with raloxifene and continuous combined estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy

To assess the differences in effect between raloxifene and continuous combined estrogen plus progestin therapy on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score.

Fifteen post-menopausal patients who had not received, and were not receiving, hormone therapy were studied. They were divided into two groups according to the therapy they received, as follows: group I, conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg/day plus medroxyprogesterone 2.5 mg/day (n = 6), group II, raloxifene 60 mg/day (n = 9). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used at baseline and after 6 months of treatment for mood assessment. Student's t test for independent samples was used for comparison among the groups; Student's t test for paired samples was used to assess differences between baseline and final Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores.

No differences were found in age or in anthropometric variables, in final Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score between the groups. In analyzing each group independently, no significant difference was found between baseline and final scores in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in group I, while in group II a significant decrease was found.

Raloxifene induces a greater decrease in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, which indicates an amelioration of depressive mood during the climacteric.