Hormone therapy may lift mood in middle-aged women

The use of systemic hormone therapy in women helps improve mood symptoms in midlife, regardless of prior diagnosis of a mental health condition, antidepressant use, or menopause stage, according to a study.

The study included 260 patients (average age 52.1 years) presenting to an urban, academic menopause centre. All of them had completed the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) before and after initiating systemic hormone therapy for FDA-approved indications.

Researchers analysed the MRS psychological subdomain scores covering depressive mood, irritability, anxiety, and mental exhaustion.

At baseline, 51 percent of patients had a history of anxiety or depression, and 24 percent were on antidepressant therapy at baseline. Most patients (96.5 percent) received transdermal oestradiol. The mean follow-up was 4.5 months.

From baseline to follow-up, the MRS psychological subdomain scores decreased significantly (p<0.001). The percentage of patients with severe mood symptoms (MRS psychological subdomain scores ≥7) dropped from 62.3 percent to 24.6 percent.

The greatest improvement in mood symptoms was observed in patients with severe baseline symptoms (mean change in MRS psychological subdomain scores, −3.85).

Factors such as psychiatric history, age, menopausal stage, or antidepressant use did not modify treatment response.

The present data support further investigation of the role of hormone therapies in improving mood in midlife women.