Associations between lifetime reproductive events among postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder

Gordon-Smith, Katherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4083-1143, Perry, Amy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9381-6636, Di Florio, A., Craddock, N., Jones, I. and Jones, Lisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5122-8334 (2024) Associations between lifetime reproductive events among postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder. Archives of Women's Mental Health. pp. 1-9. ISSN Electronic ISSN 1435-1102; Print ISSN 1434-1816

	Text (Author Upload) Associations between lifetime reproductive events among women with BD.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (853kB) | Request a copy
Preview	Text Associations between lifetime reproductive events among postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Purpose
The premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle, childbirth and perimenopause often coincide with a worsening of mood symptoms in women with bipolar disorder (BD). To date, findings from the limited number of studies investigating associations between these events among women with BD have been inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate associations between episodes in relation to the perimenopause and (i) premenstrual symptoms and (ii) postpartum mood episodes in a large sample of postmenopausal women with BD.

Methods
Among 567 postmenopausal women with BD, recruited as part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network, relationships between reproductive event-associated mood symptoms/episodes were examined. Multivariate binary analyses were carried out to identify if history of premenstrual symptoms and/or postpartum episodes predicted the occurrence of mood episodes in relation to the perimenopause, controlling for potential confounders including number of mood episodes per illness year.

Results
History of premenstrual symptoms was associated with experiencing any type of mood episode, and depression specifically, during the perimenopause (OR 6.189, p < 0.001 and OR 2.709, p = 0.019 respectively). History of postpartum depression within 6 weeks of delivery was associated with depressive episodes during the perimenopause (OR 2.635, p = 0.027). Postpartum mania was not a significant predictor.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that women with BD with a history of premenstrual symptoms and postpartum depression are potentially at increased risk of experiencing episodes of depression in relation to the perimenopause. There are clinical and self-management implications in identifying a subgroup of women with BD who may be particularly vulnerable to episodes of mood disturbance during reproductive events.

Actions (login required)

View Item