Prior reproductive and non-reproductive depression, and depressive symptoms in menopausal transition.

Authors

Marijn Schipper, Margot W L Morssinkhof, Dorenda K E van Dijken, Yadira Roggeveen, Birit F P Broekman

Published in

Journal of affective disorders. Pages 122361. Aug 09, 2026. Epub Aug 09, 2026.

Abstract

The menopausal transition is associated with an increased risk of depression. Prior depression is a well-established risk factor, but studies do not distinguish between prior reproductive and non-reproductive depression. We aimed to examine whether prior reproductive (i.e., premenstrual mood disorder and perinatal depression) and non-reproductive (i.e., not related to hormonal transitions) depression were differentially associated with depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition.
We analyzed cross-sectional data from menopause outpatient clinics, including a multidisciplinary clinic. Exposures included premenstrual mood disorder assessed with the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool, perinatal depression assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Lifetime version, and prior non-reproductive depression recorded in medical records. Current depressive symptoms were measured with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Rated. We used univariable and multivariable linear regression models to examine associations; multivariable models accounted for overlap between exposures.
Among 180 participants (median age 51; 61% perimenopausal, 39% postmenopausal), premenstrual mood disorder showed the strongest association with depressive symptom severity (B = 9.0, 95%CI 5.1-12.9, p < 0.001), followed by perinatal depression (B = 7.8, 95%CI 3.4-12.1, p < 0.001) and prior non-reproductive depression (B = 4.7, 95%CI 0.7-8.7, p = 0.021). In multivariable analysis, only premenstrual mood disorder (B = 7.2, 95%CI 2.4-12.1, p = 0.0037) and perinatal depression (B = 5.7, 95%CI 1.2-10.1, p = 0.013) remained associated with depressive symptom severity.
Prior reproductive depression, but not prior non-reproductive depression, was associated with greater depressive symptom severity during the menopausal transition. Histories of premenstrual mood disorder and/or perinatal depression may help identify individuals vulnerable to depressive symptoms during this period. Prospective studies in population-based samples are needed.

PMID:
42571793
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Aug 2026.

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