Female psychopathologic profile during menopausal transition: a preliminary study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Gerontology

Background:

• Menopause significantly impacts women's health, potentially exacerbating existing mental health conditions.
• Previous depressive disorders are a known risk factor for mental health issues during hormonal transitions.
• Understanding the psychopathological profile during menopause is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the psychopathological profile of women attending a menopause clinic.
• To determine the incidence of major depressive disorders in this population.
• To explore the relationship between a history of depression and menopausal depression.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 64 women attending a menopause clinic completed questionnaires.
• Data collected included demographics, medical history (antidepressant use), Symptoms Check List (SCL-90-R), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
• Statistical analysis compared depressed and non-depressed groups, focusing on age and history of depression.

Main Results:

• 18.1% of women were diagnosed with depression using the BDI.
• The "somatic" symptom cluster was most prevalent on the SCL-90-R.
• Women with a history of depression were younger and had higher depression scores.

Conclusions:

• A history of depressive disorder strongly correlates with depression recurrence during menopause.
• Perimenopause appears to be a critical period for the onset of depressive disorders.
• The high incidence of somatic symptoms warrants further investigation in menopausal women.