Hormone Therapy to Prevent Depression in Menopausal Women?

Hormone therapy (HT) has been theorized to attenuate the increased risk for depression around menopause. In a 1-year trial, 172 euthymic women (mean age, 51) were randomized to transdermal estradiol plus oral progesterone or to placebo.

Participants rated their depression symptoms on a scale seven times during the study. Significantly more placebo recipients than HT recipients had scores at least once at a level deemed to be “potential clinical depression.” The placebo group had significantly more visits with this cutoff score and significantly higher mean scores (by ≈1.5 points) at 6 and 12 months. Results favored active treatment more clearly among women with recent stressful life events and in early than in late perimenopause or actual me…