Heads up for all of us who have experienced a postpartum mood disorder and are headed toward menopause (which includes me)! The American Journal of Psychiatry January 2008 edition includes the headline that women who have had postpartum depression are at risk for perimenopausal depression.
Just great. Something else to look forward to …
"The likelihood of major depression increases during perimenopause,generally ages 45–49. Women with histories of premenstrualsyndrome or postpartum depression are at particular risk. Parry(CME, p. 23) summarizes the findings from studies showing anassociation between depressive episodes and higher levels offollicle-stimulating hormone. Estrogen alone has not been shownconsistently to be efficacious in perimenopausal depression.It may, however, be valuable when added to a selective serotoninreuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for women whose depression is refractoryto an SSRI alone. "
Funny…I just decided to start a new blog around this. Pre-menopause and menopause, because I'm going through it. I had my kids after the age of 35 and now I'm 45 with 3 young kids and going through a rough time of pre-menopause. Not pretty. I also suffered with PPD. So interesting to see there may be a connection.
But I'm getting through it with support.
Tracey Huguley