All women experience menopause and a significant number suffer from ongoing, severe depression beginning with the major hormone fluctuations in this middle stage of life.

We know that the brain and mental state is affected by fluctuating hormone systems about 5 years before the common physical symptoms of hot flushes and cessation of the menstrual period.

Longitudinal epidemiological studies have shown that many women experience significant physical and psychological changes as they approach menopause and for a long time following. Symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and changes in libido are common, and impact significantly on quality of life. However, the major reason that many women seek help from menopause clinics or their doctors is for depression and anxiety.

In order to discover the best treatment approach for this understudied depression that affects a large proportion of women in their late forties and fifties . The Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) are currently undertaking several clinical research studies. One of the trials is comparing the effectiveness of a hormone treatment (Tibolone) for women with severe depression related to menopause, compared with standard antidepressant medication.

This research has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Alfred Hospital

We are looking for women who are:
• aged 40 - 65
• experiencing symptoms of menopause
• experiencing depression
• interested in participating in research

If you are interested please contact Scott Santinon (S.Santinon@alfred.org.au or 9076 6589) or Tamsyn Van Rheenen (T.Rheenen@alfred.org.au or 9076 6593).

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Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
Alfred Hospital
Level 1, Old Baker Building
Commercial Road
Prahran
Phone: 9076 6589
Email: maprc@alfred.org.au

Thanks Tamsyn, I have added a link to your information on our Confident Woman facebook page.

Certainly confidence in women in middle age can be badly dented by depression. Best wishes for your research

Rachel.