Assessment of the Relationship between Menopausal Symptoms and Severity of Depression in Postmenopausal Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abstract

Introduction: Symptoms like hot flashes and night sweating, atrophic vaginitis,
osteoporosis, increase of heart diseases and possibility of depression result from
menopause and cessation of menses. Menopausal symptoms may cause depression but
existence of a relationship between menopausal symptoms and severity of depression is
doubtful. Therefore, this research is done with the objective of assessing the
relationship between menopausal symptoms and severity of depression in
postmenopausal women.
Method and materials: In this descriptive correlation research, 60 menopausal
women who referred to Mashad menopausal and gynecologic clinics were studied.
They had no history of psychiateric disorders, chronic disease, smoking and use of
narcotics, hystrectomy or oophorectomy .Evaluations for BMI, BP, laboratory test, a
pelvic and breast examination, Beck depression inventory were done at first. If they
had a beck depression inventory score of more than 9, demographic characteristics,
cassidy social support, uzeng self-steem by interview and blat menopausal symptoms,
attitude to hormone replacment therapy and menopause by subjects, were answered .
Data were analyzed by utilizing T test, pearson correlation, one way Anova with SPSS
software.
Result: Findings showed that the mean depression score and duration of amenorrea
were 19/4±7/9 and 36/6 ± 4/8, respectivly. In a total of 60 women, borderline
depression was 26/8%, mild depression 26/8%, moderate depression 26/8% and sever
depression 14/3%. 62/5% participants reported hot flash, 73/2% bone pain, 26/8 breast
pain, 41/1% headeche, 67/9% numbness, 57/1% skin crawls, 46/4% urinary
incontinence, 19/6% dysuria, 22/1% dysparonia and 64/3% complained of low sexual
desire.
There was no significant relationship between mean of depression score and severity of
menopausal symptoms ,but dysuria. Depression scores in women without dysuria
(20/47 versus 15/18) was significantly higher (p<0/05) compared with those without
dysuria.
Conclusion: According to the result of this research, menopausal symptoms had no
effect on severity of depression. So another extensive study with a different cause of
depression is recommended. 

Keywords

References

1. انجمن روانپزشکی آمریکا. «راهنمای عملی درمان افسردگی». ترجمه مهدی گنجی ، چاپ دوم، تهران: مؤسسه نشر ؛ 1378.
2. کاپلان هارولد، سادوک بنیامین. «هندبوک روانپزشکی کاپلان»ترجمه حمید نام آور، چاپ اول، تهران: حیان؛ 1375.
 
3. قلعه بندی، میرفرهاد. «روانپزشکی بالینی برای دانشجویان پزشکی و پزشکان عمومی». چاپ اول، تهران: مؤسسه
فرهنگی انتشاراتی فرهنگسازان؛ 1379.
4. کیسنر، رایان کنث جی؛ راس، اس برکوویتز؛ رابرت، ال باربیری. «اصول بیماریها و بهداشت زنان کیستنر». ترجمه
بهرام قاضی جهانی، روشنک قطبی، چاپ اول، تهران: انتشارات اندیشه روش، جلد دوم؛ 1379
5. Berek J. Novak’s gynecology. 3rd ed, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2002:1113-14.
6. Baker A, Simpson S, Doawson D. Sleep disruption and mood changes asssociated with
menopause. J Psychosom Res. 1997 Oct;43(4):359-69.
7. صالحی خواه، علی. «افسردگی از دیدگاه اسلام وعلم روز». چاپ اول، تهران: نشر شهید حسین فهمیده؛ 1374.
8. Bungay GT, Vessey MP, McPherson CK. Study of symptoms in middle life with special
reference to the menopause. Br Med J. 1980 Jul 19;281(6234):181-3.
9. Edmond D. Dewhursts text book of obstetric and gyneocology for postgraduates. 6th ed,
whitchead;1999:.441-443
10. پاک روش، فروزان. «بررسی میزان آگاهی زنان یائسه از یائسگی و رابطه آن با شیوع علائم وازوموتور و
افسردگی». تهران: دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران؛1373.
11. Juang KD, Wang SJ, Lu SR, Lee SJ, Fuh JL. Hot flashes are associated with psychological
symptoms of anxiety and depression in peri-and post– but not premenopausal women.
Maturitas. 2005 Oct 16;52(2):119-26.
12. Borissova AM, Kovatcheva R, Shinkov A, Vukov M. A study of the psychological status and
sexuality in middle-aged Bulgarian women: significance of the hormone replacement therapy
(HRT). Maturitas. 2001 Aug25;39(2):177-83.
13. Melby MK. Factor analysis of climacteric symptoms in Japan. Maturitas.2005 Nov-Dec;52(3-
4):205-22.
14. Bosworth HB, Bastain LA, Kuchibhatla MN, Steffens DC, McBride CM, Skinner CS, et al.
Depressive symptoms, menopausal status, and climacteric symptoms in women at midlife.
Psychosom Med. 2001 Jul-Aug;63(4):603-608.
15. Pitkin RM. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology. 2000 Mar; 43(1):233-234.
16. Antoijevic A, Murck H, Frieboes RM, Steiger A. Sleep-endocrine altration in women with
depression are markediy enhanced after menopause. Eur Neuropsychopharmacology. 2000
Sep;3(10):277.
17. Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Rinaudo PJ, Sheng L. Premenstrual syndrome as a predictor of
menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 2004 May; 103(5 Pt 1):960-6.
18. Didonato P, Giulini NA, Bacc. Factors associated with climacteric symptoms in women around
menopause attending menopause clinic in italy. Maturitas. 2005 Nov-Dec; 52(3-4):181-9.
19. Lee YW. Depression in post menopausal women. Taehan kanho hakhoe chi, jun2003;
33(4):471-7.
20. Chang H, Cha BK. Influencing factors of climacteric womans depression. Taehan kanho hakhoe
chi,dec. 2003;33(7):972-80. 
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
September 2007
Pages 85-92

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics