Perimenopause and First-Onset Mood Disorders: A Closer Look
Natalie Musial1, Zinnia Ali1, Jennifer Grbevski1
1Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada.
Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)
|October 25, 2021
Summary
Perimenopause can trigger new mood disorders due to hormonal shifts, especially estrogen changes. Factors like vasomotor symptoms and life events also contribute, with hormone therapy showing potential benefits.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Psychiatry
- Women's Mental Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Perimenopause presents significant psychosocial and physical changes.
- Women with prior mood disorders face higher relapse risks during this transition.
- First-onset mood disorders in perimenopause remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature on first-onset mood disorders during perimenopause.
- To identify contributing factors to mood disorders in this population.
- To explore treatment options for perimenopausal mood disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PsycInfo Ovid database.
- Focus on records concerning first-onset mood disorders during perimenopause.
- Synthesis of findings on etiological factors and treatments.
Main Results:
- Hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen, are key in multifactorial mood disorder development.
- Vasomotor symptoms, prior negative life events, and socioeconomic status are significant contributors.
- Established psychiatric medications and hormone therapy are potential treatment avenues.
Conclusions:
- First-onset mood disorders during perimenopause are multifactorial.
- Estrogen's role and other psychosocial factors are critical.
- Further research, especially on bipolar disorder, is necessary to clarify associations and optimize treatment.
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