Practical strategies for diagnosing and treating depression in women: menopausal transition

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and debilitating condition that affects twice as many women as men. Accumulated evidence suggests that hormone fluctuations may play an important role in such increased risk for depression among females. For example, women during the menopausal transition appear to have a heightened risk for developing MDD compared with premenopausal or postmenopausal women. Overlapping depressive and menopause-related symptoms (e.g., vasomotor complaints, sleep disturbances) can complicate diagnosis and treatment, but it is vital that clinicians work to adequately tailor their treatment strategies to manage both the mood and somatic symptoms. Possible treatment options to be considered include the adequate use of hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, psychotherapy, and other psychotropic agents.