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Association between depressive symptoms and reproductive variables in a group of perimenopausal women attending a menopause clinic in México City

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between depressive symptoms and some variables related to the reproductive life, such as history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, antecedent of postpartum depression, previous use of hormonal contraceptives, and current hot flushes, in a group of perimenopausal women attending a menopause clinic. Perimenopausal women, 45 to 55 years old, who had not received hormonal replacement therapy and/or psychotropic medication, were invited to participate in this study. 141 perimenopausal women were included; we obtained their psychiatric and gynecological data, and we evaluated their depressive symptomatology using the CES-D scale. There were a significantly higher number of cases of previous depressive episodes, PMDD and PPD history in depressed patients compared with non-depressed women; current hot flushes prevalence was similar between depressed and non-depressed women. Patients with a PMDD history were more likely to have experienced previous depressive episodes, a PPD history, and high levels of depression. Variables associated with the level of depression were a previous history of PMDD, current hot flushes, and previous depressive episodes. The occurrence of perimenopausal depression is related to a previous history of PMDD, PPD, and depressive episodes; hot flushes only increase the severity of the depressive episode.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry and Mental Health Department, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Soledad 25-2, Col. Florida, CP 01030, México, D.F, México

    Mónica Flores-Ramos

  2. Psychiatry and Mental Health Department, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. Universidad 3000, circuito exterior, Facultad de Medicina, edificio F, Mexico, Mexico

    Gerhard Heinze

  3. Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER), Montes Urales 800, Col. Lomas Virreyes, Mexico, Mexico

    Roberto Silvestri-Tomassoni

Authors
  1. Mónica Flores-Ramos
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  2. Gerhard Heinze
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  3. Roberto Silvestri-Tomassoni
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Correspondence to Mónica Flores-Ramos.

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Flores-Ramos, M., Heinze, G. & Silvestri-Tomassoni, R. Association between depressive symptoms and reproductive variables in a group of perimenopausal women attending a menopause clinic in México City. Arch Womens Ment Health 13, 99–105 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0107-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0107-0

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