Women With PPD At Greater Risk for Perimenopausal Depression

Heads up for all of us who have experienced a postpartum mood disorder and are headed toward menopause (which includes me)!  The American Journal of Psychiatry January 2008 edition includes the headline that women who have had postpartum depression are at risk for perimenopausal depression. 

Just great.  Something else to look forward to ...

"The likelihood of major depression increases during perimenopause,   generally ages 45–49. Women with histories of premenstrual   syndrome or postpartum depression are at particular risk. Parry   (CME, p. 23 ) summarizes the findings from studies showing an   association between depressive episodes and higher levels of   follicle-stimulating hormone. Estrogen alone has not been shown   consistently to be efficacious in perimenopausal depression.   It may, however, be valuable when added to a selective serotonin   reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for women whose depression is refractory   to an SSRI alone. ^"