ABSTRACT
Menopause is a natural life transition that occurs in all women, with an average age of occurrence at 51 years of age. The menopause is diagnosed as a point in time distinguished by the cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycles for at least 12 months. The greatest risk of depression is during the year just before the final menstrual period. Risk for depression lowers after the final menstrual period, with the risk of depression decreasing significantly after the second year post-menopause. Understanding and support is particularly important as women age, as untreated depression, in addition to the functional impairment it causes, is also associated with other health conditions that tend to increase in mid-life women, including osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. A prior history of depression is the most powerful predictor for depression onset occurring in women ages 45–55. Several studies indicate the high risk of developing depression during perimenopause in women who have a lifetime vulnerability to depression.
