Depression, it’s said, doesn’t differentiate between young and old, or male and female. However, it tends to affect women more often than men. A new research shows that the age when a woman enters menopause may have a link whether she develops symptoms of depression.
The question is, does every woman go through a period of depression as she enters the phase of menopause. Well, even if it’s just a myth, the condition of depression should not be taken lightly. Depression or any mental illness should never be viewed as a normal event and should receive the same attention as for any other disease.
Affecting 25 percent of women at some point in their lives, depression can be a difficult disease to tackle at this age. It is actually unusual to observe depressive symptoms in a woman in the menopausal age, especially when she has almost lived her life without any signs.
Effects of hormonal fluctuations
Experts believe that women seem to be more vulnerable to mood disorder at this transitional age. It may lead to major depression as the process of complete menopause may last anywhere between a few months to a few years. Some experts explain the “empty nest syndrome” – an informal term for sadness, grief and loneliness felt after a child leaves home, especially occurring in middle age – also affects the mood symptoms of women during the entire cycle of menopause.
Since most women go through behavioral changes during this juncture, researchers looked at the biological effects of hormonal fluctuations on mood. The decreased production of oestrogen (that interacts with brain chemicals to alleviate mood) may lead to depression. Other causes that lead to emotional distress may be due to hot flashes and insomnia.
A new study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in 2014 shows that women nearing menopause have higher levels of a brain protein that has been linked to depression. Senior scientist Dr. Jeffrey Meyer of CAMH’s Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute and his team found elevated levels of the chemical monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) among women aged 41-51. The first-time clinical depression in this age group had reached 16 to 17 percent, and somewhat similar number get milder depressive symptoms. The team even conducted brain scans of three groups of women using a brain imaging technique called Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to understand if MAO-A levels can explain the mood changes during perimenopause. On an average, levels of MAO-A were 34 percent higher in women with perimenopause than in the younger women, and 16 percent higher than those in menopause.
Another study, headed by Eleni Th Petridou, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, suggested that old age menopause is associated with a lower risk of depression for women. The meta-analysis included almost 68,000 women from 14 studies. The analysis showed that longer exposure to endogenous sex hormone estrogens and a longer reproductive period can have decreased risk of depression. In fact, the authors also emphasized that the findings could have a significant clinical effect by allowing for the identification of a group of women at a higher risk for depression who may benefit from psychiatric monitoring or estrogen-based therapies.
Anti-menopausal depression therapies
When women suffer from even mild symptoms of mood disorders suddenly at the menopausal stage, consulting experts would help in easing out depression related behavior. Experts recommend treatment that involves antidepressants in combination with hormone replacement therapy. It depends on individuals if a combined therapy works for them or a single therapy. In such situations, psychotherapy is a must to understand and help the patient from severe depression.
Despite the stigma associated with depression and menopause, women are now speaking about their mental health and are brave to accept the fact that they are suffering from mood disorders. If you are looking to consult specialists to understand what suits you best, there are some good depression treatment centers in Texas. If there is a need for medication, you can begin a course by the advice of any of the Texas depression treatment centers.
The Texas Depression Treatment Helpline, considered the best depression treatment center in Texas, can provide referrals to mental health professionals specializing in helping women with mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety and other related disorders. Reach out today for help at 855-678-0400.
