PREVELANCE OF DEPRESSIVE MANIFESTATIONS IN THE PERIMENOPAUSAL PERIOD

Abstract

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses that occurs after the cessation of ovarian function. The climacteric is a phase in the aging process of woman that marks the transition from the reproductive stage of life to the non­ reproductive stage and during which the ovarian function ceases. Psychological changes associated with menopause include depressive mood ,anxiety symptoms, sleep problems and vasomotor symptoms.

This study was conducted on individuals working in Tanta University in different jobs (e.g. workers, employees and nurses) during the period from September 1st 2000 till September 30th 2001.

The subject of this study included 300 perimenopausal women aging 44-55 years (group I), 75 fertile women aging less than 30 years (sub group A) and 75 pre­ retirement men aging 55-60 years (subgroup B).

Every selected person was asked to fulfill the Arabic version of women health questionnaire, which contains the following parts:

1- Social class questionnaire.

2- Pilowsky hypochondriasis scales.

3- Psychological and somatic symptoms.

4- Beliefs about the menopause.

The mean age of the first group [perimenopausal females] was 49.3 years, and in-group (A) [fertile females] was 25.52 years and group (B)[males] was 57.70 years.