[Depression and climacteric (psychometric studies on 116 women in a gynecologic polyclinic)]

In 166 women who desired estrogen treatment for menopausal symptoms, psychosocial data were obtained prior to treatment, six weeks, three months and six months after treatment. The data were obtained by questionnaire and psychometric testing. 1. Of the 25% of women with significant depressive tendencies (according to EDS) 7 of 10 were also very anxious (according to EDS). 2. Emotional stability (according to MPI-N) present in every third woman without depressive mood changes but only in 3% of women with depressive changes. 3. Every third woman with depressive changes reported sexual fantasies or dreams. Only 3% of the women without depression had these fantasies. Discharge was complained of twice as often by depressive women (according to EPS) than in those without depression. 4. Pain on micturition was a complaint of half the women with depressive mood but only 1/8 of those without depression. 5. Heart palpitations were complained of by women without depression only half as often as by the other women. 6. The satisfaction with the role as women had a significant relationship to depression scores as expected. 7. The antidepressive and anxiolytic effect of estrogen treatment in the menopause was shown objectively by psychometric studies. The findings are discussed in view of a gynaecological office practice.