Estrógenos en climaterio femenino: efecto sobre variables psicológicas / Estrogens in female climaterium: effects on psychological variables

ABSTRACT

Forty postmenopausal women were divided in 2 groups to receive a dayli dose of 2 mg oestradiol valerate and 2,5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate or an identical placebo during 6 months. Initially and the end of the treatment period, they were subjected to a psychiatric interview and the Graffar, Hamilton and Eysenk personality tests were applied. Also an analysis of Verbal Behavior was used, that results in hope and hopeless scores. There were no differences in the initial assessment between the 2 treatment groups. In women receiving hormonal suplementation, the Hamilton score decreased from 11.2 to 4.9 (p<0.002) and in women receiving placebo from 8.1 to 5.3 (NS). No other significant changes in psychological tests were observed. In conclusion, hormonal supplementation decreases the Hamilton depression score in postmenopausal women