More Research Needed to Prepare People With Mental Illness for Menopause

THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Few studies examine how people living with a mental illness may be best prepared for the menopause transition, considering both menopause symptoms and psychiatric symptoms, according to a review published online May 6 in Menopause.

Tania Perich, Ph.D., and Kelly Kakakios, both from Western Sydney University, conducted a scoping review to assess the literature on psychoeducation programs that have been developed to address the menopause knowledge needs of people living with a mental illness.

The researchers identified five studies that utilized psychoeducation in the context of cognitive behavior therapy delivered as a treatment of either depression or menopause symptoms. These studies included women living with depression or bipolar disorder. For most conditions assessed (schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol use, substance use, and eating disorders), no studies were identified that delivered any psychoeducation intervention to these populations.

“Overall, we have improved our understanding of the menopause transition and its potential effect on women”s well-being and overall functioning,” Claudio Soares, M.D., president of The Menopause Society, said in a statement. “However, this study is confirming what we know from other areas in medicine and public health — that we need to do a better job in providing persons with severe mental illnesses with the information, resources, and care they need to manage their health throughout their lifespans — including their midlife years.”

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