Guidelines for Treating Perimenopausal Depression Released

Studies suggest women are at an increased risk of depression during perimenopause —the time right before menopause when female hormones start to decline. A multi-institute expert panel convened by the North American Menopause Society and the National Network on Depression Centers Women and Mood Disorders Task Group has now developed and published the first-everguidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression.The guidelines were jointly published in the journalsMenopause and theJournal of Women's Health.“The notion of a menopause-associated depression … has been the focus of clinical and scientific debate for years,” wrote the panel members. “The lack of consensus on this issue has also led to a lack of clarity [on] how to evaluate and treat depression in women during the menopausal transit ion and postmenopausal period.”The expert panel, co-chaired by Pauline Maki, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and Susan Kornstein, M.D., of Virginia Commonwealth University focused on five areas: epidemiology, clinical presentation, effects of antidepressants, effects of hormone therapy, and efficacy of other therapies such as psychotherapy and exercise.The recommendations made by the panel include the following:Proven therapeutic options for depression such as antidepressants and psychotherapy are best for treating major depressive episodes during perimenopause.Existing data suggest that antidepressants can be given to ...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: estrogen replacement therapy guidelines hormonal contraception menopause perimenopausal depression women's health Source Type: research