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[Effects of estrogen supplementation on psychological variables in climacteric women]
G Gramegna1, J E Blümel, S Jara
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile (Campus Sur), Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau, Santiago de Chile.
Background:
The beneficial effects of estrogen supplementation in climacteric women are clear. However, their psychological effects are not well documented.
Aim:
To study the effects of estrogen supplementation on psychological variables in climacteric women.
Subjects And Methods:
Forty postmenopausal women were divided in two groups to receive a daily dose of 2 mg oestradiol valerate and 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate or an identical placebo during six months. Initially and at the end of the treatment period, they were subjected to a psychiatric interview and the Graffar, Hamilton and Eysenk personality tests were applied. Also, an Analysis of Verbal Behavior was used, that results in hope and hopeless scores.
Results:
There were no differences in the initial assessment between the two treatment groups. In women receiving hormonal supplementation, the Hamilton score decreased from 11.2 to 4.9 (p < 0.002) and in women receiving placebo from 8.1 to 5.3 (NS). No other significant changes in psychological tests were observed.
Conclusions:
Hormonal supplementation decreases the Hamilton depression score in postmenopausal women.