A preliminary study of hormone replacement therapy and psychological mood states in perimenopausal women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopausal women has been suggest ed to minimize the physical symptoms of menopause and improve mood and psyc hological functioning; however, the therapy remains controversial. In this study the effects of such therapy (comprising tablets, patches, and implant s) on mood states was investigated within a sample of 70 perimenopausal wom en who were attending a family planning clinic within the Brisbane metropol itan area. On a battery of standardized questionnaires, including the Gener al Health Questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States, the Eysenck Personalit y Questionnaire, and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; those 35 women w ho were using hormone replacement therapy prescribed by the clinic physicia n reported significantly lower scores on anxiety, insomnia, and somatic sym ptoms than did a comparable group of 35 untreated perimenopausal women. The se findings provide some tentative support for the beneficial effects of th e therapy On physical symptoms and psychological mood states related to the onset of menopause. Given increased life expectancy, there is a growing ne ed for research into issues of aging.