Prior depression affects the experience of the perimenopause - findings from the Swiss Perimenopause Study

Abstract

Background: There is a prevalence peak of depression in the perimenopause, with this reproductive phase being considered a window of vulnerability due to major biopsychosocial changes. Depression has been associated with physical and psychosocial impairment. Prior depression has been shown to be a risk factor for the development of several somatic and mental diseases. We assume that women with prior depression will exhibit increased burdensome symptoms in the perimenopause compared to women without prior depression.

Methods: A total of 135 perimenopausal women aged 40-56 years participated in the longitudinal Swiss Perimenopause Study. For the purpose of this investigation, a cross-sectional design was chosen. A wide range of validated psychosocial questionnaires were used to compare women with and without prior depression regarding their experience of the perimenopause. Findings were statistically adjusted for multiple testing.

Results: Women with prior depression showed significantly more depressive symptoms (U = 1215.5, p < .01), more menopausal symptoms (U = 1395.0, p < .01), and more sleep disturbances (U = 1583.5, p < .05) than women without prior depression. Moreover, women with a history of depression reported lower subjective mental health (U = 1573.0, p < 05) and felt more isolated (U = 1524.0, p < .05) than those without prior depression.

Limitations: Self-report data may affect the results. Furthermore, due to the cross-sectional design, causality cannot be inferred.

Conclusions: Prior depression affects women's experience of the perimenopause. Women with prior depression exhibit significantly more negative health outcomes in the perimenopause than those without prior depression.

Keywords: History of depression; Menopausal symptoms; Perimenopause; Sleep disturbances.