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Perimenopause, the transitional phase before menopause, significantly increases the risk of depression among women by 40 per cent, a new study from the University College London (UCL) reveals.
The study, published on Wednesday in the Journal of Affective Disorders, conducted a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 9,141 women from various countries, including Australia, the US, China, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It found that compared to premenopausal women, those in the perimenopausal stage had a notably higher likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms and receiving a diagnosis of depression.
Senior author Roopal Desai, from UCL’s Psychology & Language Sciences, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, “This study shows that women in the perimenopausal stage are significantly more likely to experience depression than either before or after this stage.”
The study underscores the necessity for screening and support for women navigating perimenopause, recognizing them as a potentially vulnerable group. Desai further stressed the importance of providing adequate support and screening to effectively address the mental health needs of women during this life stage.
Previous research by the same researchers suggested that mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy could be beneficial in managing depression during perimenopause.
Perimenopause, occurring three to five years before menopause, triggers fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, leading to mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, and other menopausal symptoms. These physiological changes contribute to increased susceptibility to depression among women in this phase.
This transitional stage typically spans between four to eight years and persists until one year after a woman’s final menstrual period.
The findings from this study shed light on the mental health challenges faced by women during perimenopause, urging healthcare professionals to prioritize screening and support interventions to mitigate the risk of depression in this population segment.
