The prevalence of depression and anxiety in premenopausal and menopausal women: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background and AimsTargeted research on physiological and psychological changes during menopause is crucial. Most studies have prioritized the investigation of psychological disorders during menopause, with a limited comparison of mental health among women in the various stages surrounding menopause. This study aims to explore the difference in depression and anxiety prevalence between women in premenopausal and menopause.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted on 242 female participants referred to Imam Hossein (AS) Educational and Therapeutic Hospital affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. These 242 individuals were selected through accessible sampling. 122 individuals were placed in the menopausal group and 120 individuals in the premenopausal group. First, the medical history of all participants was taken, and then the Beck questionnaire was administered to examine the levels of depression and anxiety. The association between the occurrence and severity of depression and anxiety in menopausal and premenopausal groups was statistically analyzed.ResultsIn this study, the age range of the participants was 45−70, the overall prevalence of depression was estimated to be 33.5% and the overall prevalence of anxiety was estimated to be 54.2%. The prevalence of depression was 30.2% and 36.6% in the menopausal and premenopausal groups, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety was estimated to be 52.5% and 55.7% in the menopausal and premenopausal groups, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the occurrence and severity of depression and anxiety.Conclusionour study found a higher incidence of depression during premenopause compared to menopause, possibly due to greater hormonal fluctuations. Despite this, there wasn't a significant confirmation of this hypothesis compared to other groups. Nonetheless, there's a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety among premenopausal women, emphasizing the need for screening and intervention, such as hormone therapy, to prevent severe outcomes.