
Research view
Title: | Perimenopausal psychiatric aspects in urban versus rural Egyptian women in Menoufi ya |
Author: | Nabil R. Mohameda, Lamiaa G. El-Hamrawy, Afaf Z. Rajab,Mohamed S. El Bahy, Eman G. Saleh |
Abstract: |
Background
The perimenopause marks a major life transition for women, an end to the childbearing years
and cessation of menses. Women frequently face a number of major life stressors during the
years leading up to menopause.
Aim
This study aimed to explore the biopsychosocial aspects of perimenopause, to study the
distribution of menopausal symptoms in an urban versus a rural community, and to study the
psychosocial profi le of women with psychiatric disorders during the perimenopausal period
and their impact on quality of life to evaluate their attitude toward menopause and its relation
to the psychiatric disorders, and to focus on the possible relationship between estradiol level
and psychiatric disorders in perimenopausal women.
Patients and methods
This study enrolled 50 perimenopausal women and 20 premenopausal women as a control
group.
Tools of the study
We used the following tools: Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV, Stressful Life Events
Scale, the Arabic version of Greene Climacteric Scale and Menopausal Symptom Checklist,
the Quality of Life Scale for Menopausal Women, Attitude Towards Menopause, the Hamilton
Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Sleep Questionnaire, and
laboratory investigations including determination of follicle stimulating hormone serum level
and serum estradiol level.
Results
In this study, the perimenopausal group had signifi cantly (P < 0.001) greater stressful life events
than premenopausal women (66% of perimenopausal women were at a defi nite risk for illness and
34% were at a moderate risk for illness). Perimenopausal women with psychiatric disorders had
signifi cantly greater stressful life events than those without psychiatric disorders. We also found
that 36 (72%) perimenopausal women had signifi cantly (P < 0.01) positive attitude compared
with fi ve (25%) premenopausal women. Perimenopausal women with psychiatric disorders had
greater severity of menopausal symptoms (highly signifi cant in hot fl ushes). Perimenopausal
women with psychiatric disorders had poor quality of life and marked psychological limitations. In
the present study, risk factors for patients with major depressive disorder were a family history of
mood disorder, vasomotor symptoms, and stressful life events. Risk factors for generalized anxiety
disorder were a family history of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and vasomotor symptoms.
Conclusion
It is important to assess the psychosocial profi le, women’s attitude toward menopause, menopausal
symptoms, and screening for psychiatric disorders for better quality of life and better outcome.
Keywor ds :
perimenopause, psychiatric disorders, quality of life
|
Journal: | Egyptian Journal of Psychiatry 2015, 36:21–39 |
Text: | |
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