London Women are twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder in the years leading up to their final menstrual cycle, a new study has found. Experts say this type of research could help predict individual risks of mental health problems during this time, potentially saving lives.
This period, known as perimenopause, occurs when a woman begins to experience menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and brain fog, even though she is still having her period.
The study, conducted by academics from Cardiff University in collaboration with Biobank UK and Bipolar UK, looked at 128,294 British women in the four years leading up to the menopause. It found a 112% increase in bipolar disorder during the perimenopause, while major depressive disorder increased by 30%.
“During the perimenopause, around 80% of people develop symptoms, but the impact of this on the onset of severe mental illness has not been known,” said Professor Arianna Di Florio, from Cardiff University.
“In my clinic, I have found that some women, who previously lived lives without any experience of severe mental health problems, develop severe mental illness around the time of menopause,” she continued.
“I feel a duty to the women I work with,” she added. “I wanted to give them and other women answers as to why this terrible thing happened to them.”
“This study is very important because it shows for the first time in a very large sample that the menopausal transition has a significant impact on women’s mental health,” said Claire Dolman, Bipolar UK ambassador and lead on patient and public engagement for the project.
“To me, this confirms what we have observed and heard from women with bipolar disorder themselves, which is that hormonal change is a very important factor in mood disorders and one that deserves to be investigated more thoroughly,” Dolman says.
“As a woman with bipolar disorder who has gone through menopause, I look forward to the research community recognizing the importance of this funding,” she added. “The studies will allow us to predict a woman’s risk of developing an unexpected illness at this time of life. This knowledge could save her life.”
The findings, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, could help provide additional support for women who have previously been “left in the dark”, according to Professor Di Florio. “Research like this is vital as women are facing these profound changes in their lives and bodies and are currently frustrated by the lack of detailed understanding of these changes,” she said.
“We have been able to expand our knowledge of the mental health changes associated with perimenopause, which could help provide explanations, diagnoses and support for women who have previously been left in the dark about what is happening to them,” she continued.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which the affected person suffers from severe fluctuations in mood, thinking and behavior and is unable to perform daily tasks. The affected person lives through difficult times and may go through dangerous situations, but the worst thing is that he does not realize the reason for these fluctuations.
Types of bipolar disorder
There are 3 types of bipolar disorder, determined by the mood a person may experience:
1- Bipolar I disorder: The patient suffers from manic episodes that last for at least a week, and also suffers from depressive episodes that last for at least two weeks. This type may require hospitalization.
2- Bipolar II disorder: The affected person suffers from depressive episodes more than manic episodes. He may also suffer from mild manic episodes.
3- Cyclothymic disorder: A person with this type of disorder experiences episodes of depression and hypomania for at least two years. In children, the condition may last only one year.
Anyone can have another type of bipolar disorder that doesn’t fit into any of these three types, and unfortunately there is no cure for bipolar disorder, which means that what we can do is try to control the condition so that it doesn’t get out of control.