Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder in Postmenopausal Women: Prevalence, Clinical Features, and Comorbidity

Abstract

OCD was not rare in postmenopausal women admitted to a gynaecology outpatient clinic. In addition, OCD appears to be frequently comorbid with depressive or other anxiety disorders in the postmenopausal period.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Female Reproductive Cycle Events: Results From the Ocd and Reproduction Collaborative Study

“…Our findings regarding changes in pre‐existing OCD symptoms during the premenstruum, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause are within the range reported by previous studies . Study findings on premenstrual exacerbation of OCD report rates between 20 and 50%, whereas worsening of preexisting OCD symptoms is reported to be 8–46% in pregnancy and 29–48% postpartum .…”

“…Study findings on premenstrual exacerbation of OCD report rates between 20 and 50%, whereas worsening of preexisting OCD symptoms is reported to be 8–46% in pregnancy and 29–48% postpartum . Exacerbation of OCD symptoms at or after menopause varies from 8 to 47% . Bidirectional change (aggravation or amelioration) in OCD symptom severity during pregnancy was also found in other studies .…”

“…Studies have shown that in a subset of women, OCD symptoms have their onset in or exacerbate during various reproductive cycle events, such as pregnancy and postpartum . The birth of a child and infant care can be a source of psychological stress that may contribute to the development of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) and possibly OCD.…”

“…Previous studies have reported on the frequency in which onset and exacerbation of OCD occur at menarche, in the premenstruum, in pregnancy, during the postpartum period, and at menopause . The wide range of rates reported may be a result of small sample sizes, differing methods of data collection, lack of uniform diagnostic criteria, and differences in sample ascertainment.…”

Ovarian Sex Hormones Modulate Compulsive, Affective and Cognitive Functions in A Non-Induced Mouse Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“…Existing studies have investigated obsessions and compulsions only during and after progressive menopause with contradictory evidence (Vulink et al, 2006). One such study showed that, OCD is not a rare comorbidity during post menopause (Uguz et al, 2010), while another study demonstrated that the symptoms are more related with menarche and decreases during menopause (Guglielmi et al, 2014). …”