Variation in symptoms of depression and anxiety in midlife women by menopausal status.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between menopausal status and the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety in a community-based sample of Australian midlife women.

STUDY DESIGN

Female participants (mean age 50.6±1.5) who were premenopausal (n=237), perimenopausal (n=249) or naturally postmenopausal (n=225) were drawn from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project, a longitudinal study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Goldberg Depression Scale and Goldberg Anxiety Scale. Generalised linear regression models with a negative binomial log link were used.

RESULTS

Relative to premenopause and after adjusting for all relevant covariates, being perimenopausal was associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of depression (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.29, p=0.001), while being postmenopausal was associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of anxiety (IRR=1.15, p=0.041). Being perimenopausal or postmenopausal was associated with an increased risk of greater symptoms of depression (IRR=1.35, p=0.008; IRR=1.31, p=0.029) and anxiety (IRR=1.22, p=0.030; IRR=1.32, p=0.006) in women without a history of probable major depressive disorder or generalised anxiety disorder. Risk of symptoms did not differ with menopausal status in women with this history.

CONCLUSIONS

Menopausal status is associated with the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety. There is a greater likelihood of increased symptoms of depression during perimenopause and symptoms of anxiety during postmenopause. In women without a history of depression or anxiety, the perimenopause and postmenopausal stages are associated with increased risk of greater symptoms of anxiety and depression relative to premenopause.