TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Depressive symptoms and suicidality by menopausal stages among middle-aged Korean women JO - Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences A1 - An, Se Young A1 - Kim, Yejin A1 - Kwon, Ria A1 - Lim, Ga-Young A1 - Choi, Hye Rin A1 - Namgoung, Sunju A1 - Jeon, Sang Won A1 - Chang, Yoosoo A1 - Ryu, Seungho SP - e60 EP - e60 VL - 31 IS - N2 - AIMS: There has been increasing evidence of hormonal changes during reproductive events that lead to mood changes. However, studies on the severity of psychological problems according to the menopausal stage are limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between menopausal stages, depression and suicidality.

METHODS: A total of 45 177 women who underwent regular health check-ups between 2015 and 2018 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were included. Participants were stratified into four groups (pre-menopause, early transition, late transition and post-menopause) based on the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop Criteria. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CESD) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, and the degree of depressive symptoms was classified as moderate (CESD score 16-24) or severe (CESD score ⩾ 25). To measure suicide risk, we administered questionnaires related to suicidal ideation.

RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of CESD scores of 16-24 and ⩾ 25 was 7.6 and 2.8%, respectively. Menopausal stages were positively associated with depressive symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs, 95% confidence intervals) for CESD scores of 16-24 comparing the stages of the early menopausal transition (MT), late MT and post-menopause to pre-menopause was 1.28 (1.16-1.42), 1.21 (1.05-1.38) and 1.58 (1.36-1.84), respectively. The multivariable-adjusted PRs for CESD scores ⩾ 25 comparing the stages of the early MT, late MT and post-menopause to pre-menopause were 1.31 (1.11-1.55), 1.39 (1.12-1.72), 1.86 (1.47-2.37), respectively. In addition, the multivariable-adjusted PRs for suicidal ideation comparing the early MT, late MT and post-menopause stages to the pre-menopause stage were 1.24 (1.12-1.38), 1.07 (0.93-1.24) and 1.46 (1.25-1.70) (p for trend <0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation increases with advancing menopausal stage, even pre-menopause.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2045-7960 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S2045796022000439 ID - ref1 ER -