Talking Therapies Could Help Women Through Menopause: A Comprehensive Analysis
The menopause is a significant milestone in a woman’s life, marking the end of menstruation and bringing about a transition that can last for several years. Unfortunately, this natural process often leads to a range of symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, memory problems, and psychological difficulties such as depression and anxiety. However, recent research suggests that talking therapies could offer relief and improve the quality of life for women going through the menopause.
A team of researchers from University College London (UCL) conducted a comprehensive study, pooling data from 22 robust studies that investigated the impact of different therapies on the psychological symptoms of menopause. They found that therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) had a medium to large effect on quality of life, and a small but positive impact on anxiety and depression.
CBT, in particular, showed small effects on depression and anxiety, while MBI had small effects on depression and medium to large effects on anxiety. The duration of the interventions may have contributed to these differences, with MBI interventions typically being longer than CBT interventions. Additionally, three studies indicated a small improvement in memory and concentration, although further research is needed to confirm these findings.
It should be noted that while these therapies offer potential benefits for women, the study did not explore the long-lasting effects or identify the most helpful timing for therapeutic interventions during the menopause. Furthermore, it did not determine whether these therapies might be more beneficial for certain women or how meaningful an improvement in mood they might provide.
The possibility of using talking therapies to manage menopause symptoms has sparked considerable controversy. Draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) suggested that CBT could be offered as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for treating symptoms. However, the researchers behind the new study stress that their research does not undermine the importance of HRT, but rather offers an additional approach that could bring benefits.
The potential future trends related to these themes are vast. As more research is conducted, it is likely that the effectiveness of talking therapies will be further explored, including their impact on cognitive problems associated with menopause, such as brain fog. Additionally, there is a need to investigate how best to implement these therapies and whether they can assist women in living with or managing the various difficulties they may face