Menopause knowledge and subjective experience among peri- and postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression.
This study examined concerns regarding menopause among women with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (N = 30), women with bipolar disorder (N = 25), and women with major depression (N = 36). The three groups were compared regarding knowledge of menopause, expectations of effect of menopause, and menopause-related quality of life. All women had deficits in fund of knowledge regarding menopause. More than half (53.8%) agreed that they felt more stressed due to menopause or approaching menopause, and 51.6% felt that menopause has had a negative effect on their emotional state. Perceptions of menopause effect on emotional states between the three groups were similar. The top five symptoms experienced by women with serious mental illness were all problems related to psychological issues: feeling depressed (88%, N = 80), feeling anxious (88%, N = 80), feeling tired or worn out (87%, N = 79), feeling a lack of energy (86%, N = 78), and experiencing poor memory (84%, N = 76). Larger-scale studies evaluating the effects of menopause on serious mental illness are needed to clarify how menopause affects illness outcomes in women with serious mental illness.
Sajatovic
Martha
M
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Friedman
Susan Hatters
SH
Schuermeyer
Isabel N
IN
Safavi
Roknedin
R
Ignacio
Rosalinda V
RV
Hays
Robert W
RW
West
Jane A
JA
Blow
Frederic C
FC
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires