The risk factors and symptomatology of perimenopausal depression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine if the depression in perimenopausal women is symptomatologically different than depression in premenopausal women, and if these depressive women are under more risk for depression when factors like premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, socio-economical status, vasomotor symptoms and familial inclination to depression are considered.


METHODS
Fifty major depressive women with hormonally established perimenopause (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels over 20IU/l and estrogen levels lower than 40IU/l) and who were not taking any psychotropic or hormone replacement therapy, were enrolled in the study. In order to investigate the characteristic clinical features of perimenopausal depression, a drug free control group consisting of 48 pre-perimenopausal women with a diagnosis of major depression was formed. Another control group was formed with 53 non-depressive perimenopausal women in order to investigate the risk factors of perimenopausal depression.


RESULTS
The depressive and non-depressive groups did not differ from each other according to level of education, marital and economical status and comorbid physical problems. No major symptomatological difference between perimenopausal depression and pre-perimenopausal depression was found. No correlation was found between the severity of vasomotor symptoms and severity of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of our study suggest that vasomotor symptoms and socio-economical status do not predict the severity and existence of perimenopausal depression. Episodes of major depression are not necessarily the normal result of such vasomotor symptoms. Therefore, the evaluation and management of perimenopausal depression should be carried out as carefully as is done in episodes of depression seen in the rest of women's life span.
Oztürk
Ozgür
O
TAPD, Family Planning Association of Turkey, Buca Medical Center, Koşuyolu cad. 506 sok. No. 2, Sirinyer/Buca, Izmir, Turkey. drozgurozturk@hotmail.com <drozgurozturk@hotmail.com>
Eraslan
Defne
D
Mete
Hayriye Elbi
HE
Ozşener
Serdar
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000523:psychology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*