Comparison of Effects of Two Different Hormone Therapies on Mood in Symptomatic Postmenopausal Women

Ob-jec-ti-ve: To investigate the effects of two different hormone therapies on menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores in women with symptomatic natural menopause. Met-hods: 183 patients completed the study. Group I patients were treated with transdermal estradiol and oral norethisterone acetate. Group II patients were treated with oral continuous combination of norethisterone and estradiol hemihydrate. Group III (control group) patients were administered placebo. The treatment protocols were used for three months in all groups. Menopausal, depression and anxiety symptoms of the patients were assessed using the Kupperman scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) before and at the end of treatment. Re-sults: Significant improvement was observed in menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores in all groups at the end of three months of therapy (p<0.001). When the three groups were compared for all parameters before and after treatment, groups I and II showed better results than group III (p≤0.001). Conc-lu-si-on: Transdermal or oral estradiol in combination with norethisterone improves scores of menopausal, depression and anxiety symptoms in women with symptomatic natural menopause. (Arc-hi-ves of Neu-ropsy-chi-atry 2012;49: 39-43)