Researching the symptoms of menopause: An exercise in methodology

Kaufert, Patricia A.; Gilbert, Penny; Hassard, Thomas

doi:10.1016/0378-5122(88)90156-9

Cited by 114 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In one of these (Hunter, 1990a) such depressive symptoms as did exist were largely related to a prior history of depression and negative attitudes towards the menopause. Community surveys of women around the menopause consistently reveal no excess of depressive disorders (Hallstrom & Samuelsson, 1985;Gath et al, 1987;McKinlay et al, 1987;Kaufert et al, 1988), and depressive symptoms at this time seem more likely to be related to life events and other social difficulties than to the fact of the menopause (Green, 1984;Cooke, 1985;McKinlay et al, 1987). Pre-existing levels of stress appear to determine whether women respond to the menopause with depressed mood (Hunter, 1990b;Kaufert et al, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The influence of age and sex on the prevalence of depressive conditions: report from the National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity

Bebbington

Dunn

Jenkins

et al. 2003

International Review of Psychiatry

190

104

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Women are consistently reported to have a greater prevalence of depressive disorders than men. The reason for this is unclear, and is as likely to be social as biological. There is some evidence that the excess of depression is greater during women's reproductive lives. Data from the National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity were used to test the hypothesis that the excess disappeared in the post-menopausal years and that obvious social explanations for this were inadequate. Subjects (n = 9792) from a random sample of the British population provided data for the analysis. Lay interviewers using the CIS-R carried out psychiatric assessment. Subjects with ICD-10 depressive episode or mixed anxiety/depression were compared with the remainder. Social variables that were likely to contribute to a post-menopausal decline in depressive disorders were controlled in logistic regression analyses. There was a clear reversal of the sex difference in prevalence of depression in those over age 55. This could not be explained in terms of differential effects of marital status, childcare, or employment status. This large and representative survey adds considerably to the increasingly held view that the sex difference in prevalence of depression is less apparent in later middle age. This may be linked to the menopause, and our attempts to explain it in terms of obvious conditions among social variables were not successful. More specific studies are required to clarify the finding.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The influence of age and sex on the prevalence of depressive conditions: report from the National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity

Bebbington

Dunn

Jenkins

et al. 2003

International Review of Psychiatry

190

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, questions have been raised as to whether the three stages of menopause reflect the actual process that women go through. Kaufert, Gilbert, and Hassard (1988) indicated that women do not necessarily evolve from pre-to perimenopause and then to postmenopause. They may go back and forth between pre-and perimenopause, and even postmenopause, although rarely.…”

Section: Evolution Of the Concept Of Perimenopausementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Again, these conflicting results may be explained by different definitions and measurements of depression used in various studies. Whereas Hunter (1992) viewed depression as depressed mood and feeling blue, Kaufert et al (1988) focused on measuring depressive symptoms more than mood change. Therefore, it seems likely that the use of different operational definitions of depression contributes to equivocal findings.…”

Section: Psychosomatic Symptomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perimenopause: The transition into menopause

Lanuza

Gulanick

et al. 1996

Health Care for Women International

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With an ever-accumulating body of knowledge about menopause has come the realization that the transition into menopause, specifically the perimenopausal period, is a process occurring over a period of years. We now know that the majority of women do not move from a time of regular menses to an abrupt cessation of menses. Rather, they experience perimenopause, a time of menstrual irregularity defined by changes in the length of the menstrual cycle and/or changes in level of discomfort associated with menses. We also know now that hormonal levels during the perimenopausal period may fluctuate more intensely, precipitating vasomotor and other symptoms. There is a tremendous need to educate women and their health care providers about the stages of the menopausal process. Such education will foster understanding of when women can expect the onset of perimenopausal symptoms. Health care providers should assist women with their questions and concerns as they move through this time of transition.

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“…Although reports of the perimenopause before the "estrogen deficiency era" report flooding menstruation, increased cervical mucus, breast tenderness, and emotional symptoms (52), and some of the anecdotal (130) and early epidemiological literature (40,55,71) can be interpreted to show high estrogen levels, nothing yet written has integrated women's experiences with the endocrinology of this transition. What follows will be a brief discussion of some of the symptoms reported by perimenopausal women in parallel with their hypothesized hormonal etiologies.…”

Section: Hormonal Physiology Of Clinical Changes In the Perimenopmentioning

confidence: 99%