---
title: Is the menopause transition a risky time for depression to develop?
description: Yes, some women are at higher risk of depression during the transition to menopause, and women with a history of severe PMS may be especially vulnerable.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/challenges-and-opportunities-to-manage-depression-during-the-menopausal-2010/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Is the menopause transition a risky time for depression to develop?

Review, 2010

# Is the menopause transition a risky time for depression to develop?

Yes, some women are at higher risk of depression during the transition to menopause, and women with a history of severe PMS may be especially vulnerable.

 Early or limited evidence

Women transitioning to menopause

## What they did

Review of evidence about depression during the menopausal transition, examining biological and environmental risk factors and treatment options.

## What they found

Multiple risk factors contribute to depression in menopausal women: hot flushes, sleep disturbances, history of severe PMS, postpartum blues, stressful life events, depression history, lower socioeconomic status, and certain medications. Ovarian hormones affect brain chemicals that regulate mood. Estrogen patches and antidepressants effectively treat depression and hot flushes in midlife women.

## What it means for you

Women with a history of severe PMS may be at higher risk for depression during menopause and might benefit from monitoring and early treatment. The review notes more targeted treatment options are still needed.

## About the study

Original title Challenges and opportunities to manage depression during the menopausal transition and beyond Authors Soares CN, Frey BN Journal The Psychiatric clinics of North America Year 2010 Study design Review What was tested Transdermal estradiol and antidepressants Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2010.01.007](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2010.01.007)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2010

How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages?

Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2020

Does progesterone therapy help premenstrual syndrome in women with PCOS?

Survey study, 2013

Are menstrual symptoms common in middle-aged women and do they relate to hot flushes?

Randomised trial, 2013

Does progesterone reduce PMS symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?

Survey study, 2007

Are diet and lifestyle factors associated with premenstrual symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗