Short-term use of estradiol for depression in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the effect of a 4-week course of estrogen therapy on depression in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Twenty-two depressed women who were either perimenopausal (N=10) or postmenopausal (N=12) received open-label treatment with transdermal 17beta-estradiol (100 micro g/day) for 4 weeks. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess depressive symptoms, the Greene Climacteric Scale was used to assess menopause-related symptoms, and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) was used to assess global clinical improvement in these women at baseline and after treatment. Remission of depression was defined as a score <10 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and a score </=2 on the CGI at week 4.


RESULTS
Remission of depression was noted in eight of the 20 women who completed the study; two of these women were postmenopausal, and six were perimenopausal. Antidepressant response was not associated with severity or subtypes of depression at study entry or with concomitant improvement in menopause-related symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Some perimenopausal women with depression may benefit from short-term use of estrogen therapy, and its role for postmenopausal depressed women warrants further investigation. Antidepressant benefit associated with estrogen therapy may be independent of improvement in physical symptoms.
Cohen
Lee S
LS
Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry Clinical Research Program and Vicent Memorail Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. LCOHEN2@PARTNERS.ORG
Soares
Claudio N
CN
Poitras
Jennifer R
JR
Prouty
Jennifer
J
Alexander
Allison B
AB
Shifren
Jan L
JL
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D002979:Climacteric / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004958:Estradiol