Menopause and Mood: The Role of Estrogen in Midlife Depression and Beyond

Depression is a disabling condition that often leads to significant burden. Women are more vulnerable to depression during reproductive-related "windows of vulnerability" such as the menopause transition and early postmenopausal years. This heightened vulnerability can be attributed, at le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Psychiatric clinics of North America Vol. 46; no. 3; p. 463
Main Author Soares, Claudio N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.2023
Subjects
Depression
Perimenopause
Treatments
Menopause
Estrogen
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Summary:Depression is a disabling condition that often leads to significant burden. Women are more vulnerable to depression during reproductive-related "windows of vulnerability" such as the menopause transition and early postmenopausal years. This heightened vulnerability can be attributed, at least in part, to the neuromodulatory effects of estrogen on mood and cognition and the exposure to rapid fluctuations of estradiol levels during midlife years. The management of midlife depression can be challenging due to the presence and severity of other complaints such as vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances. Psychopharmacologic, behavioral, and hormonal interventions should be part of the treatment armamentarium.
ISSN:1558-3147
DOI:10.1016/j.psc.2023.04.004