Negative affect symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and vasomotor symptoms during perimenopause

Abstract

Objective: Vasomotor symptoms affect 60-80% of women during the menopausal transition. Anxiety, depression, and anxiety sensitivity can have an important role in the distressful experience of vasomotor symptoms. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and association of vasomotor and negative affect symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 89 perimenopausal women aged 45-55 years. Broad psychiatric and clinical evaluations were carried out. The primary outcome was the vasomotor symptom problem rating and the main study factor was anxiety sensitivity. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between the study factors and the primary outcome, and a multiple regression model was created to assess which variables were independently associated with vasomotor symptom problem rating. Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and vasomotor symptoms were 58, 62, and 73%, respectively. Negative affect symptoms were positively associated with vasomotor symptom problem rating. The association of anxiety sensitivity and vasomotor symptom problem rating remained significant after controlling for perimenopausal stage, thyrotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and psychotropic medication use (b = 0.314, p = 0.002). Conclusion: A better understanding of the experience of vasomotor symptoms is needed, especially the role of negative affect symptoms and anxiety sensitivity. New strategies focusing on related thoughts and behaviors could improve the quality of life of perimenopausal women.

A Saúde da Mulher é pouco abordada nos cursos de educação física?

“…A mulher passa a ter sintomas como ondas de calor, sudorese, calafrios, cefaleia, tontura, fadiga muscular, insônia, depressão, irritabilidade, nervosismo, perda de memória e dificuldade de concentração (PROBO, SOARES et al, 2016). Os sintomas vasomotores (ondas de calor e sudorese) afetam 60 a 80% das mulheres nesta fase (JAEGER, MINÁ et al, 2020). Os sintomas são facilmente controlados com o aumento das atividades físicas (PROBO, SOARES et al, 2016) ou a realização de exercício físicos (NILSSON, HENRIKSSON et al, 2022).…”

Neuroendocrine pathogenesis of perimenopausal depression

“…More than 80% of perimenopausal women show various physiological and psychological symptoms due to changes in sex hormones ( 13 ), such as depression and no interest, sleep disorders, tired, low energy, no self-confidant and thinking of death ( Figure 1 ) ( 14 ). Women with anxiety sensitivity are more likely to suffer from vasoconstriction symptoms ( 15 ), and some will also suffer from mental disorders ( 16 ). Multiple menopausal symptoms occur at the same time and overlap with emotional disorders ( 17 ), leading to an increased risk of new or recurrent depression ( 18 ).…”

Vasomotor menopausal disorders as a possible result of dysfunction of the microbiota-intestine-brain axis

“…In most women, psycho-emotional and vasomotor manifestations occur almost simultaneously in 25% – in 3–6 months [ 24 ]. As a rule, pathological psycho-emotional symptoms develop during the menopausal transition, while vasomotor disorders more often become dominant within 12 months after menopause and last on an average up to 7 years [ 25 ].…”