Psychopathological Symptoms and Treatment of Menopause

Chapter

Abstract

Menopause is a period in which women stop menstruating and experience changes in their body that mark the end of their reproductive period. We noted that symptoms are not the same in all women. There are some biological and socioeconomic factors that affect the form and appearance of symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, hot flashes, sleep disorder, incontinence, and sexual difficulties. We must state that these symptoms do not affect all women, and they do not affect them to the same degree. We explained variables that have been related to a greater risk and greater protection; for example, it has been found that attitude or belief about the menopause is an important factor related to this experience. Nowadays, this cycle in the lives of women is an issue of concern for those who suffer from it and for the scientific community. The principal treatments for these symptoms are reviewed in this chapter to explain the principal findings found in the literature. In conclusion, there are some types of treatments that have been proven effective and should be included, such as coadjuvant treatment to improve the quality of life of women with these problems. Hence, multidisciplinary and preventive treatment could be the key.

Keywords

Sleep Disorder Menopausal Symptom Premature Ovarian Failure Vasomotor Symptom Early Menopause 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

References

  1. 1.
    World Health Organisation. Research on menopause. Report of a WHO scientific group. WHO technical report N670. WHO Geneva; 1981.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Jones EK, Jurgenson JR, Katzenellenbogen JM, Thompson SC. Menopause and the influence of culture: another gap for Indigenous Australian women? BMC Womens Health. 2012;12:431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Winterich JA, Umberson D. How women experience menopause: the importance of social context. J Women Aging. 1999;11(4):57–73.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Melby MK, Lock M, Kaufert P. Culture and symptom reporting at menopause. Hum Reprod Update. 2005;11:495–512.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Im EO, Ko Y, Hwang H, Chee W. Symptom-specific or holistic menopausal symptom management. Health Care Women Int. 2012;33(6):575–92.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Avis NE, Crawford SL, McKinlay SM. Psychological behavioural, and health factors related to menopause symptomatology. Womens Health. 1997;3:103–20.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Kadakia KC, Loprinzi CL, Barton DL. Hot flashes: the ongoing search for effective interventions. Menopause. 2012;19(7):719–21.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Dennerstein L, Dudley EC, Hopper JL, Guthrie JR, Burger HG. A prospective population-based study of menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 2000;96:351–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Ameratunga D, Goldin J, Hickey M. Sleep disturbance in menopause. Intern Med J. 2012;42(7):742–7.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    van Geelen JM, van de Weijer PH, Arnolds HT. Urogenital symptoms and resulting discomfort in non-institutionalized Dutch women aged 50 to 75 years. Ned Tijdschr Genesk. 1996;140:713–6.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Trutnovsky G, Rojas RG, Mann KP, Dietz HP. Urinary incontinence: the role of menopause. Menopause. 2013;21(4):399–402.Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Findik RB, Unluer AN, Sahin E, Bzkurt OF, Karakaya J, Unsal A. Urinary incontinence in women and its relation with pregnancy, mode of delivery, connective tissue disease and other factors. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2012;21(2):207–13.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Cohen LS, Soares CN, Vitonis AF, Otto MW, Harlow BL. Risk for new onset of depression during the menopausal transition: the Harvard study of moods and cycles. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:385–90.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Weber MT, Maki PM, McDermott MP. Cognition and mood in perimenopause: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Jul;142:90–8.Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Dibonaventura MD, Chandran A, Hsu MA, Bushmakin A. Burden of vasomotor symptoms in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Int J Womens Health. 2013;5:261–9.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Woods NF, Mitchell ES. Symptoms during the perimenopause: prevalence, severity, trajectory, and significance in women’s lives. Am J Med. 2005;118(Suppl 12B):14–24.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Hunter M, Rendall M. Bio-psycho-socio-cultural perspectives on menopause. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2007;21(2):261–74.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Riggs BL, Khosla S, Melton III J. Sex steroids and the construction and conservation of the adult skeleton. Endocr Rev. 2002;23(3):279–302.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Ramezani Tehrani F, Behboudi-Gandevani S, Ghanbarian A, Azizi F. Effect of menopause on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors: a 9-year follow-up, population-based, cohort study. Climacteric. 2014;17(2):164–72.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Eshtiaghi R, Esteghamati A, Nakhjavani M. Menopause is an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome in Iranian women. Maturitas. 2010;65(3):262–6.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Singer D, Mann E, Hunter MS, Pitkin J, Panay N. The silent grief: psychosocial aspects of premature ovarian failure. Climacteric. 2011;14(4):428–37.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Woad KJ, Watkins WJ, Prendergast D, Shelling AN. The genetic basis of premature ovarian failure. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2006;46(3):242–4.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Gold EB, Crawford SL, Avis NE, Crandall CJ, Matthews KA, Waetjen LE, Lee JS, Thurston R, Vuga M, Harlow SD. Factors related to age at natural menopause: longitudinal analyses from SWAN. Am J Epidemiol. 2013;178(1):70–83.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Hardy R, Kuh D, Wadsworth M. Smoking, body mass index, socio-economic status and the menopausal transition in a British national cohort. Int J Epidemiol. 2000;29:845–51.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Li S, Rosenberg L, Wise LA, Boggs DA, Lavalley M, Palmer JR. Age at natural menopause in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a follow-up study of US black women. Maturitas. 2013;75(3):246–52.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Monterrosa-Castro A, Blümel JE, Portela-Buelvas K, Mezones-Holguín E, Barón G, Bencosme A, Benítez Z, Bravo LM, Calle A, Chedraui P, Flores D, Espinoza MT, Gómez G, Hernández-Bueno JA, Laribezcoa F, Lima S, Martino M, Mostajo D, Ojeda E, Onatra W, Sánchez H, Navarro D, Tserotas K, Vallejo MS, Witis S, Zuñiga MC; for the Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC). Type II diabetes mellitus and menopause: a multinational study. Climacteric. 2013;16(6):663-72.Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Canonico M, Plu-Bureau G, O’Sullivan MJ, Stefanick ML, Cochrane B, Scarabin PY, Manson JE. Age at menopause, reproductive history, and venous thromboembolism risk among postmenopausal women: the Women’s Health Initiative hormone therapy clinical trials. Menopause. 2013;21(3):214–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Hunter MS. Editorial: depression and the menopause. BMJ. 1996;313:1217–8.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    Hunter MS, Chilcot J. Testing a cognitive model of menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. J Psychosom Res. 2013;74(4):307–12.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    Ayers B, Forshaw M, Hunter MS. The impact of attitudes towards the menopause on women’s symptom experience: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2010;65(1):28–36.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Aksu H, Sevinçok L, Kücük M, Sezer SD, Oğurlu N. The attitudes of menopausal women and their spouses towards menopause. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2011;38(3):251–5.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Bromberger JT, Kravitz HM, Chang Y, Cyranowski JM, Brown C, Matthews KA. Major depression during and after the menopausal transition: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Psychol Med. 2011;41:1879–88.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Bromberger JT, Kravitz HM, Chang Y, Randolph Jr JF, Avis NE, Gold EB, Matthews KA. Does risk for anxiety increase during the menopausal transition? Study of women’s health across the nation. Menopause. 2013;20(5):488–95.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    Pérez-López FR, Pérez-Roncero G, Fernández-Iñarrea J, Fernández-Alonso AM, Chedraui P, Llaneza P; for The MARIA (MenopAuse Risk Assessment) Research Group. Resilience, depressed mood, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2013;21(2):159-64.Google Scholar
  35. 35.
    Larëva NV, Govorin AV. Psychosomatic relationships in postmenopausal women. Ter Arkh. 2013;85(3):86–9.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Hunter MS. Psychological and somatic experience of the menopause: a prospective study. Psychosom Med. 1990;52:357–67.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    Cooke DJ, Greene JG. Types of life events in relation to symptoms at the climacterium. J Psychosom Res. 1981;25:5–11.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Hunter M, Liao K. Evaluation of a four-session cognitive-behavioural intervention for menopausal hot flushes. Br J Health Psychol. 1996;1:113–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. 39.
    Dennerstein L, Lehert P, Burger H, et al. Mood and the menopause transition. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1999;187:685–91.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    Hickey M, Bryant C, Judd F. Evaluation and management of depressive and anxiety symptoms in midlife. Climacteric. 2012;15(1):3–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    Tom SE, Cooper R, Patel KV, Guralnik JM. Menopausal characteristics and physical functioning in older adulthood in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Menopause. 2012;19(3):283–9.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  42. 42.
    Mann E, Singer D, Pitkin J, Panay N, Hunter MS. Psychosocial adjustment in women with premature menopause: a cross-sectional survey. Climacteric. 2012;15(5):481–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    Cramer H, Lauche R, Langhorst J, Dobos G. Effectiveness of yoga for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:863905.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    Joshi S, Khandwe R, Bapat D, Deshmukh U. Effect of yoga on menopausal symptoms. Menopause Int. 2011;17(3):78–81.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    Lee MS, Kim JI, Ha JY, Boddy K, Ernst E. Yoga for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review. Menopause. 2009;16(3):602–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    Elavsky S, McAuley E. Exercise and self-esteem in menopausal women: a randomized controlled trial involving walking and yoga. Am J Health Promot. 2007;22(2):83–92.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. 47.
    Chattha R, Nagarathna R, Padmalatha V, Nagendra HR. Effect of yoga on cognitive functions in climacteric syndrome: a randomised control study. BJOG. 2008;115(8):991–1000.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. 48.
    Daley A, Stokes-Lampard H, Macarthur C. Exercise for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;11(5), CD006108.Google Scholar
  49. 49.
    Babatunde OO, Forsyth JJ, Gidlow CJ. A meta-analysis of brief high-impact exercises for enhancing bone health in premenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2012;23(1):109–19.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    Mansikkamäki K, Raitanen J, Nygård CH, Heinonen R, Mikkola T, EijaTomás LR. Sleep quality and aerobic training among menopausal women–a randomized controlled trial. Maturitas. 2012;72(4):339–45.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. 51.
    Aragão FR, Abrantes CG, Gabriel RE, Sousa MF, Castelo-Branco C, Moreira MH. Effects of a 12-month multi-component exercise program on the body composition of postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2014;17(2):155–63.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. 52.
    Pereira VS, de Melo MV, Correia GN, Driusso P. Vaginal cone for postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence: randomized, controlled trial. Climacteric. 2012;15(1):45–51.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. 53.
    Whiteman MK, Staropoli CA, Lengenberg PW, McCarter RJ, Kjerulff KH, Flaws JH. Smoking, body mass, and hot flashes in midlife women. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101:264–72.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. 54.
    Imayama I, Alfano CM, Kong A, Foster-Schubert KE, Bain CE, Xiao L, Duggan C, Wang CY, Campbell KL, Blackburn GL, McTiernan A. Dietary weight loss and exercise interventions effects on quality of life in overweight/obese postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:118.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  55. 55.
    Kalra B, Agarwal S, Magon S. Holistic care of menopause: understanding the framework. J Midlife Health. 2012;3(2):66–9.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  56. 56.
    Alder J, Eymann Besken K, Armbruster U, Decio R, Gairing A, Kang A, Bitzer J. Cognitive-behavioural group intervention for climacteric syndrome. Psychother Psychosom. 2006;75(5):298–303.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. 57.
    Larroy García C, Gómez-Calcerrada SG. Cognitive-behavioral intervention among women with slight menopausal symptoms: a pilot study. Span J Psychol. 2011;14(1):344–55.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. 58.
    Keefer L, Blanchard EB. A behavioral group treatment program for menopausal hot flashes: results of a pilot study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2005;30(1):21–30.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. 59.
    Ayers B, Smith M, Hellier J, Mann E, Hunter MS. Effectiveness of group and self-help cognitive behavior therapy in reducing problematic menopausal hot flushes and night sweats (MENOS 2): a randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2012;19(7):749–59.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  60. 60.
    Balabanovic J, Ayers B, Hunter MS. Cognitive behaviour therapy for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats: a qualitative analysis of women’s experiences of group and self-help CBT. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2013;41(4):441–57.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  61. 61.
    Green SM, Haber E, McCabe RE, Soares CN. Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for menopausal symptoms: a pilot study. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013;16(4):325–32.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  62. 62.
    Duijts SF, van Beurden M, Oldenburg HS, Hunter MS, Kieffer JM, Stuiver MM, Gerritsma MA, Menke-Pluymers MB, Plaisier PW, Rijna H, Lopes Cardozo AM, Timmers G, van der Meij S, van der Veen H, Bijker N, de Widt-Levert LM, Geenen MM, Heuff G, van Dulken EJ, Boven E, Aaronson NK. Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise in alleviating treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in patients with breast cancer: results of a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(33):4124–33.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  63. 63.
    Larroy García C, Gutiérrez G-CS. Cognitive-behavioral intervention in menopausal symptomatology: short-term effects. Psicothema. 2009;21(2):255–61.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  64. 64.
    Carmody J. Evolving conceptions of mindfulness in clinical settings. J Cogn Psychother. 2009;23(3):270–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  65. 65.
    Carmody JF, Crawford S, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Leung K, Churchill L, Olendzki N. Mindfulness training for coping with hot flashes: results of a randomized trial. Menopause. 2011;18(6):611–20.PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  66. 66.
    Garcia MC, Pompéia S, Hachul H, Kozasa EH, de Souza AA, Tufik S, Mello LE. Is mindfulness associated with insomnia after menopause? Menopause. 2014;21(3):301–5.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  67. 67.
    Catalbiano ML, Holzheimer M. Dispositional factors, coping and adaptation during menopause. Climacteric. 1999;2:21–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  68. 68.
    Senba N, Matsuo H. Effect of a health education program on climacteric women. Climacteric. 2010;13(6):561–9.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  69. 69.
    Tremblay A, Sheeran L, Aranda SK. Psychoeducational interventions to alleviate hot flashes: a systematic review. Menopause. 2008;15(1):193–202.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  70. 70.
    Kaufert PA. Myth and the menopause. Sociol Health Illn. 1982;4:141–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  71. 71.
    Kaufert PA. The social and cultural context of menopause (review). Maturitas. 1996;23(2):169–80.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  72. 72.
    Coney S, Seaman B. The menopause industry: how the medical establishment exploits women. Alameda, CA: Hunter House; 1994.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychiatryAlava University HospitalVitoriaSpain
  2. 2.University of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioaSpain
  3. 3.CIBERSAMMadridSpain

Personalised recommendations