Estrogen therapy for depression in postmenopausal women

Objective: To look at the modification in depressive mood in postmenopausal depressed women after estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Method: Twelve d epressed patients divided into two groups of six women each were studied. O ne group received conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg/day; the other did not receive any treatment (control group). Mood was assessed in all th e subjects at baseline and at 6 months with Hamilton Rating Scale score and considered as depression when it was > 15. Differences between groups were determined by Mann-Whitney U-test, and in each group between baseline and 6-month values with Wilcoxon test. Results: The ERT group had a statistical ly significant decrease in depressive mood (21 vs. 13 points, P < 0.03), wh ile in the control group no significant change was found. Final Hamilton sc ale scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in those under ERT, when com pared with those in the control group. Conclusion: Depressive mood decrease d after 6 months with GEE, so the prescription of ERT can be useful in post menopausal women with depressive mood. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.