The purpose of this study is to investigate mood and behavior changes in the time period surrounding and including menopause. This is an observational study; volunteers who participate will not receive any new or experimental therapies. Controversy exists regarding the relationship between estrogen and progesterone (gonadal steroid) changes and midlife-onset depression. This study will examine the role of gonadal steroids in perimenopausal mood and behavioral disorders. Perimenopausal women with depression symptoms and a control group of healthy perimenopausal volunteers will be compared to identify correlates of the occurrence of depression. Participants with depressive symptoms may also participate in companion studies that will test the antidepressant efficacy of phytoestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS). A group of younger pre-perimenopausal women with normal menstrual cycle functioning will be followed through menopause in an effort to confirm the association of depression onset with changes in reproductive endocrine functioning.

Population

Both depressed and asymptomatic women who are in the perimenopause.

Brief Title

Perimenopause-Related Mood and Behavioral Disorders

Official Title

The Evaluation of Women With Perimenopause-Related Mood and Behavioral Disorders

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate mood and behavior changes in the time period <br /> surrounding and including menopause. This is an observational study; volunteers who <br /> participate will not receive any new or experimental therapies. <br /> <br /> Controversy exists regarding the relationship between estrogen and progesterone (gonadal <br /> steroid) changes and midlife-onset depression. This study will examine the role of gonadal <br /> steroids in perimenopausal mood and behavioral disorders. <br /> <br /> Perimenopausal women with depression symptoms and a control group of healthy perimenopausal <br /> volunteers will be compared to identify correlates of the occurrence of depression. <br /> Participants with depressive symptoms may also participate in companion studies that will <br /> test the antidepressant efficacy of phytoestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators <br /> (SERMS). <br /> <br /> A group of younger pre-perimenopausal women with normal menstrual cycle functioning will be <br /> followed through menopause in an effort to confirm the association of depression onset with <br /> changes in reproductive endocrine functioning.

Detailed Description

Controversy exists regarding the relevance of changes in gonadal steroids for midlife onset
depressions. The purpose of this protocol is to allow for the careful screening of patients
and healthy volunteers for participation in research protocols that examine the role of
gonadal steroids in depressions occurring during the perimenopause and for the collection of
natural history data. Women in this protocol will undergo an evaluation which may include: a
psychiatric diagnostic interview; rating scales; a medical history; a physical exam; blood
and urine laboratory evaluation; and a request for medical records. The data collected may
also be linked with data from other perimenopausal depression protocols (e.g., DNA,
psychophysiology tests, treatment studies, etc.) for the purposes of better understanding the
diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment response of women with depression during the
perimenopause.Upon conclusion of the screening process, participants will either be offered
entry into a research protocol and will sign the appropriate informed consent, or will be
considered not appropriate for participation in research and will be referred back into the
community. The second purpose of this protocol is to permit the identification of
premenopausal women who are followed longitudinally through the menopause transition in an
effort to confirm the association of depression onset with change in reproductive endocrine
function. This protocol, then, serves as a screening and evaluation protocol to recruit
subjects who are characterized with standard measures in this protocol and then offered
participation in related studies.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.