Effects and management of the menopausal transition in women with depression and bipolar disorder.

Unipolar and bipolar disorders are major causes of disease burden for women in the United States. For some women, the menopausal transition can represent a time of increased vulnerability to depression, a greater risk of recurrence or instability of bipolar disorder, and an overall poorer quality of life (QOL). The physical and psychological changes of menopause and symptoms of depression may overlap, but QOL is affected doubly for women …