Psychiatria pre prax 3/2009

Depression in women: depression in perimenopause and menopause

The aims of this paper is to suggest on mood disorders in women during the perimenopause and menopause, on its occurrence, supposed etiology and effective treatment. There are differences between normal mental expressions (fluctuations of mood) and pathological mental state - depression. A current epidemiological studies indicate that the risk of the development of mood disorders in women during perimenoause is higher than in other population. The association between a decline of the ovarial hormones and the psychopathological symptoms during perimenopause and menopause is not clear. The antidepressive effect of estrogen in women with significant mood disorders has not yet been demonstrated. In the open-label studies various antidepressants (SSRI - paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline, citaloprame) as well as so-called dual antidepressants (venlafaxine, mirtazapine, duloxetine) showed their therapeutic effect in the treatment of perimenopausal depression.

Keywords: perimenopause, menopause, depression, estrogens, antidepressants