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Variation in symptoms of depression and anxiety in midlife women by menopausal status
Stephanie Mulhall1, Ross Andel2, Kaarin J Anstey3
1The Australian National University, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Australian National University, Research School of Psychology, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Objectives:
To examine the association between menopausal status and the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety in a community-based sample of Australian midlife women.
Study Design:
Female participants (mean age 50.6±1.5) who were premenopausal (n=237), perimenopausal (n=249) or naturally postmenopausal (n=225) were drawn from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project, a longitudinal study.
Main Outcome Measures:
Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Goldberg Depression Scale and Goldberg Anxiety Scale. Generalised linear regression models with a negative binomial log link were used.
Results:
Relative to premenopause and after adjusting for all relevant covariates, being perimenopausal was associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of depression (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.29, p=0.001), while being postmenopausal was associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of anxiety (IRR=1.15, p=0.041). Being perimenopausal or postmenopausal was associated with an increased risk of greater symptoms of depression (IRR=1.35, p=0.008; IRR=1.31, p=0.029) and anxiety (IRR=1.22, p=0.030; IRR=1.32, p=0.006) in women without a history of probable major depressive disorder or generalised anxiety disorder. Risk of symptoms did not differ with menopausal status in women with this history.
Conclusions:
Menopausal status is associated with the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety. There is a greater likelihood of increased symptoms of depression during perimenopause and symptoms of anxiety during postmenopause. In women without a history of depression or anxiety, the perimenopause and postmenopausal stages are associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of anxiety and depression relative to premenopause.
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