Hormones Can Contribute to Psychiatric Problems in Women

Women are far more likely than men to develop thyroid problems, especially past age 50, and abnormal levels of thyroid hormones can cause depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric symptoms, according to a report in the November 21 New York Times. The menopausal transition can also put middle-aged women at risk of major depression, a 10-year prospective study has found, and the cause may well be changes in reproductive hormones. You can read more about this study in Psychiatric News.

More information about the menopause and women's mental health can be found in the book Menopause: A Mental Health Practitioner's Guide from American Psychiatric Publishing.

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