Abstract
Perimenopause, the interval of irregular menstrual activity which directly precedes menopause, is characterized by widely fluctuating hormone levels amidst a large-scale decline in circulating estrogen. This phase in a woman's life is typically accompanied by physical discomforts including vasomotor symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, and hot flushes, as well as genital atrophy. Not surprisingly, studies suggest a significant increase in mood lability for women during this time. While some evidence points toward an exacerbation of bipolar mood symptoms and an increase in schizophrenic psychosis during perimenopause, the majority of research conducted on perimenopausal mental disorders has focused on unipolar depression. Studies vary widely in methodology, definitions of menopausal status, and degrees of depression among subjects; however, the majority of findings indicate an increased susceptibility to depression during the perimenopausal transition. This greater susceptibility may be due to neuroendocrine effects of declining estrogen levels, the subjective experience of somatic symptoms resulting from this hormonal decline, anal or the more frequent occurrence of "exit" or "loss" events for women during this stage of life. At this time, more research is needed to address questions of prevalence, risk, and etiology for depression and other major mental disorders as related to the physiological and psychosocial changes associated with perimenopause.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 471-478 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | CNS Spectrums |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Perimenopausal mental disorders : Epidemiology and phenomenology. / Rasgon, Natalie; Crossen, Stephanie; Halbreich, Uriel.
In: CNS Spectrums, Vol. 10, No. 6, 01.01.2005, p. 471-478.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Perimenopausal mental disorders
T2 - Epidemiology and phenomenology
AU - Rasgon, Natalie
AU - Crossen, Stephanie
AU - Halbreich, Uriel
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Perimenopause, the interval of irregular menstrual activity which directly precedes menopause, is characterized by widely fluctuating hormone levels amidst a large-scale decline in circulating estrogen. This phase in a woman's life is typically accompanied by physical discomforts including vasomotor symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, and hot flushes, as well as genital atrophy. Not surprisingly, studies suggest a significant increase in mood lability for women during this time. While some evidence points toward an exacerbation of bipolar mood symptoms and an increase in schizophrenic psychosis during perimenopause, the majority of research conducted on perimenopausal mental disorders has focused on unipolar depression. Studies vary widely in methodology, definitions of menopausal status, and degrees of depression among subjects; however, the majority of findings indicate an increased susceptibility to depression during the perimenopausal transition. This greater susceptibility may be due to neuroendocrine effects of declining estrogen levels, the subjective experience of somatic symptoms resulting from this hormonal decline, anal or the more frequent occurrence of "exit" or "loss" events for women during this stage of life. At this time, more research is needed to address questions of prevalence, risk, and etiology for depression and other major mental disorders as related to the physiological and psychosocial changes associated with perimenopause.
AB - Perimenopause, the interval of irregular menstrual activity which directly precedes menopause, is characterized by widely fluctuating hormone levels amidst a large-scale decline in circulating estrogen. This phase in a woman's life is typically accompanied by physical discomforts including vasomotor symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, and hot flushes, as well as genital atrophy. Not surprisingly, studies suggest a significant increase in mood lability for women during this time. While some evidence points toward an exacerbation of bipolar mood symptoms and an increase in schizophrenic psychosis during perimenopause, the majority of research conducted on perimenopausal mental disorders has focused on unipolar depression. Studies vary widely in methodology, definitions of menopausal status, and degrees of depression among subjects; however, the majority of findings indicate an increased susceptibility to depression during the perimenopausal transition. This greater susceptibility may be due to neuroendocrine effects of declining estrogen levels, the subjective experience of somatic symptoms resulting from this hormonal decline, anal or the more frequent occurrence of "exit" or "loss" events for women during this stage of life. At this time, more research is needed to address questions of prevalence, risk, and etiology for depression and other major mental disorders as related to the physiological and psychosocial changes associated with perimenopause.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=21644459288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1092852900023166
DO - 10.1017/S1092852900023166
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15908901
AN - SCOPUS:21644459288
VL - 10
SP - 471
EP - 478
JO - CNS Spectrums
JF - CNS Spectrums
SN - 1092-8529
IS - 6
ER -