Estrogen therapy for depression in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To look at the modification in depressive mood in postmenopausal depressed women after estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). METHOD: Twelve depressed patients divided into two groups of six women each were studied. One group received conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg/day; the other did not receive any treatment (control group). Mood was assessed in all the subjects at baseline and at 6 months with Hamilton Rating Scale score and considered as depression when it was > 15. Differences between groups were determined by Mann-Whitney U-test, and in each group between baseline and 6-month values with Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The ERT group had a statistically significant decrease in depressive mood (21 vs. 13 points, P < 0.03), while in the control group no significant change was found. Final Hamilton scale scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in those under ERT, when compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Depressive mood decreased after 6 months with CEE, so the prescription of ERT can be useful in postmenopausal women with depressive mood.