Perimenopausal depression may look different compared to depression in childbearing years

MAPrc researchers have published a study which found that symptoms of depression during perimenopause were found to present as subtly different to that seen during the childbearing years, with milder symptoms of depression, increased anger, reduced sleep quality, and increased fatigue that was independent of sleep quality.

The study noted that due to perimenopause being a period of marked hormonal fluctuations, for many women experience increased vasomotor, mood, or somatic symptoms therefore consideration of biological contributions to presenting depressive symptoms is important and should be targeted therapeutically

It also highlights that psychologists treating perimenopausal patients should be mindful of the potential for biopsychosocial causes of depressive symptoms when providing care and include general practitioners or specialists in the treatment plan where appropriate.

Click here to read the full study.