Depressive symptoms, menopausal status, and climacteric symptoms in women at midlife

Objective: Previous studies have found increased rates of depression in wom en aged 45 to 54 years, but the factors that influence these rates are not understood. It was assessed whether higher rates of depressive symptoms wer e associated with menopausal status, climacteric symptoms, and use of hormo ne replacement therapy. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Community sample. Methods: Data are from 581 women ages 45 to 54 years who were inter viewed by telephone between October 1998 and February 1999. Measures: Depre ssion was measured with the abbreviated CES-D, a depressive symptoms screen ing measure. Women's reported perception of menopausal stage, frequency of periods in the preceding 12 months, and history of oophorectomy were used t o classify their menopausal status into four categories: (1) no indication of menopause; (2) close to menopause; (3) had begun menopause; and (4) had completed menopause. Results: There were 168 women (28.9%) who reported a h igh level (greater than or equal to 10) of depressive symptoms when the abb reviated CES-D was used. In a logistic-regression analysis, significant fac tors associated with increased depressive symptoms included physical inacti vity, inadequate income, use of estrogen/progesterone combination, and pres ence of climacteric symptoms (trouble sleeping, mood swings, or memory prob lems). Menopausal status was not associated with depressive symptoms. Concl usions: In this sample of women age 45 to 54 years, climacteric symptoms bu t not menopausal status were associated with higher rates of depressive sym ptoms.