Raloxifene: is it really effective on mood changes in postmenopausal osteopenic women?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of raloxifene therapy on menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores using Kupperman's Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck Anxiety Rating Scale (BARS) in osteopenic postmenopausal women.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomised, parallel and open labeled clinical study. One-hundred thirty-two postmenopausal osteopenic women with natural menopause enrolled into the study. One-hundred twenty-four of them completed the study. Group I patients were treated with oral raloxifene (60 mg/day), Group II patients were treated with oral calcium supplementation (1000 mg/day) for 3 months. The patient's menopausal, depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by using Kupperman's Scale, HDRS and BARS, before and at the end of treatment. For statistical analysis unpaired t, ANOVA, RM-ANOVA, MANCOVA, Pearson correlation tests were used. Statistical significance level was established at p < 0.05.


RESULTS
Baseline Kupperman's Scale, HDRS and BARS scores were not different among two groups. At the end of 3 months of therapy, there was improvement in menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores within both groups. When we compared change of scores before and after the treatment; group I scores were better than group II scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that raloxifene may have a positive effect on mood in osteopenic postmenopausal women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. ykarageyim@yahoo.com
A Yasemin Karageyim
AY
Karsidag
Cagatay
C
Karsidag
Esra Esim
EE
Buyukbayrak
Bulent
B
Kars
Meltem
M
Pirimoglu
Orhan
O
Unal
M Cem
MC
Turan
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride