Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148:844-852
Copyright © 1991 by American Psychiatric Association
Menopause-related affective disorders: a justification for further study
PJ Schmidt and DR Rubinow
Section on Behavioral Endocrinology, Biological Psychiatry Branch, NIMH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Despite descriptions dating back to the nineteenth century of menopause-
related affective syndromes, recent investigations have been unable to
characterize a specific disturbance of mood or behavior related to this
period of life. In this article the authors identify a number of
methodologic problems in earlier studies and suggest that further study is
warranted and that it is premature to conclude that menopause- related
affective syndromes do not exist. They then provide guidelines for
examining mood and behavioral changes that take place during the
climacteric and menopause, with the hope of stimulating further research
which may determine whether menopause-related affective disorders exist
and, if so, their characteristics.
