Epidemiology of Depression Before and After Menopause

Depressive symptoms decrease after the final menstrual period.

In the years preceding menopause (the menopausal transition), women face a heightened risk for depressive symptoms. These researchers explored the presence of depressive symptoms both before and after natural menopause.

The 203 participants, drawn from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study (POAS), were selected if they reached natural menopause during a 14-year follow-up (white, 53%; black, 47%). Mean age was 43 at entry into POAS and 51 at final menstrual period (FMP). About 44% of participants had a history of depression.

Annually, the risk for high depressive-symptom scores was greater before FMP and lower afterwards. Women with a history of depression were more likely to have high depressive-symptom scores (odds ratios: overall, 13.62; after menop…

Reviewing Author

Deborah Cowley, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Katz Family Foundation

Deborah Cowley, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Katz Family Foundation

Epidemiology of Depression Before and After Menopause

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Reviewing Author