Research has also shown that cases of clinical depression increased by 30% among women after the onset of menopausal symptoms.
One study found that women are more than twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder in the years before their last menstrual period, a time known as perimenopause.
According to experts, this type of research can help predict an individual’s risk of mental health problems during this phase, which could “save lives.”
Perimenopause is the period between the onset of menopausal symptoms and a woman’s last menstrual period.
The study of 128,294 women in the UK, led by academics from Cardiff University in Wales, in collaboration with the Bipolar UK Institute and the UK Biobank, a health research database, focused on the four years around their last menstrual period.
A 112% increase in cases of bipolar disorder was found during perimenopause, while clinical depression increased by 30%.
“During perimenopause, around 80% of people develop symptoms, but the impact on the onset of serious mental disorders was not known,” explains Arianna Di Florio, professor at Cardiff University.
“In my clinic I discovered that some women, who until then had lived without serious mental health problems, developed serious mental disorders around the time of menopause.”
UK Bipolar representative Clare Dolman, who is also responsible for patient and public engagement in the project, said:
“This confirms what we’ve been seeing and hearing from women with bipolar disorder themselves, which is that hormonal changes are a very important factor in mood disorders, and it’s something that deserves to be studied in depth.”
The study, according to her, would help predict the risk of women getting sick.
“This knowledge can save lives,” Dolman says.
Di Florio believes that the findings, published in the scientific journal Nature Mental Health, could help provide more support for women.
“We’ve been able to expand our knowledge of the mental health changes associated with perimenopause, which can help provide explanations, diagnoses and support to women who were previously left in the dark about what was happening to them,” she explains.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
