Effect of long-term local or systemic hormone replacement therapy on post-menopausal mood disturbances. Influences of socio-economic and personality factors

To clarify the effect exerted by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) versus s ocio-economic and personality factors in improving postmenopausal mood diso rders. Study design: The effect of the I-year administration of systemic ho rmone replacement therapy (HRT; n = 22) or a vaginal cream of estriol (n = 14) versus no treatment (n = 26) was evaluated on mood states of anxiety, d epression: somatization and inadequacy, as evaluated by the symptom rating test (SRT) scale. Results were correlated with the woman socio-economic sta tus, and her capability to cope with daytime distresses, as evaluated by th e Coping Style questionnaire. Results: A spontaneous decline of all SRT sco res, except that of inadequacy, was observed in the group with no treatment . In comparison HRT induced a greater improvement of only the SRT score of inadequacy (P < 0.01) and to a lesser extent of anxiety (P < 0.06). Similar ly, vaginal estriol induced a greater decline of the SRT score of inadequac y (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that modifications of the total SRT score and the SRT score of anxiety were related mainly to socio- economic factors, while those of the SRT score of depression were related o nly to the coping style of the woman. The decline of somatization was relat ed only to time since the menopause while, the reduction of the SRT score o f inadequacy was only the consequence of therapy, either systemic or local. Conclusions: In a I-year period improvement of post-menopausal psychologic al discomfort, is spontaneous and independent of therapy. Only symptoms of inadequacy are improved by the hormonal therapy. Likely, the perceived meno pausal 'losses' make the woman to feel inadequate and the use of sex-relate d hormones is capable to improve this feeling. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd. All rights reserved.