{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: The risk of depression in the menopausal stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
{Author}: Badawy Y;Spector A;Li Z;Desai R;
{Journal}: J Affect Disord
{Volume}: 357
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 15
{Factor}: 6.533
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.041
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>For many women, menopause transition can be a period of emotional and physical changes, with different menopausal stages associated with varied risk for depressive symptoms and diagnosis. This review aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to provide an estimate for the risk of developing a) clinical depression and b) depressive symptoms at different menopausal stages.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Web of Science from inception to July 2023. Seventeen prospective cohort studies with a total of 16061 women were included in the review, and risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS). Seven papers with a total of 9141 participants were included in meta-analyses, using random effects models and pooled odds ratios (OR) calculated for depressive symptoms and diagnoses.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Perimenopausal women were found to be at a significantly higher risk for depressive symptoms and diagnoses, compared to premenopausal women (OR = 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.21; 1.61, p < .001). We did not find a significantly increased risk for depressive symptoms or diagnoses in post-menopausal, compared to pre-menopausal women.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Studies used different criteria to classify the menopausal stages and different measures for depression, which may have contributed to the heterogeneity seen in some models. We were unable to include a model that compared peri to post-menopause, due to a lack of longitudinal studies comparing the two stages.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The risk of depression in perimenopause, shown in an ethnically diverse sample; highlights the clinical need for screening and support in this potentially vulnerable group.