Risk factors of depressive disorders in the menopause: A Narrative Review

Risk factors of depressive disorders in the menopause: A Narrative Review Ensieh Fooladi 1, Forouzan Elyasi 2, Fatemeh Abdollahi 3 Mohsen Aarabi 4, Marzieh Azizi*5 1 Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Nasibeh Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Sari, Iran. 2 Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center and addiction Institute, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran 3 Department of Public Health, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 4Department of Epidemiology, Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 5* Master Student of Midwifery counseling, Research student Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Nasibeh Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Sari, Iran. (marziehazizi70@gmail .com) ABSTRACT Introduction: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorders in the menopause and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality consequences. Given the importance of identification risk factors of depression in this period, the purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors of depression in menopausal period. Materials and Methods: In this narrative review, electronic databases were including Google Scholar and the more specifically in Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Ovid, Science Direct and ProQuest. Those articles published between 1985 and 2017 were retrieved and undergone abstract and full-text appraisal. Lastly, 65 articles were selected and used to write this study’s results. Results: The risk factors of depression in menopause were classified as follow: biological (decreased reproductive hormonal level, long term premenopausal period, experience severe menopausal symptoms, premature menopause, decreased physical health, family history of psychiatric disorders, history of postpartum depression, history of premenstrual syndrome), psychological (history of depression, stressful life events, negative attitude toward menopause and aging, history of an or mood disorders, sense of loss in the life, low self-concept and self-esteem) and social (stress of caring adolescent children or changes in the family structure, empty nest syndrome, additional caregiving responsibilities of old parents, lower socioeconomic status, financial problems, absence of employment, inability to work outside the home and avoidance of social activities, and retirement, changes in marital status and marital conflicts). Conclusion: Given the important role of psychological health in menopausal aged women, it is recommended that mental health and risk factors of psychiatric disorders in menopause will be evaluated in menopause clinics and every high risk women will be referred to psychiatrist for pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment. Keywords: Depression, menopause, psychiatric disorders, psychosocial factors, biological.