Therapy could be effective treatment for non-physical symptoms of menopause

A woman talks to a doctor Interventions such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), could be an effective treatment option for menopause-related mood symptoms, memory and concentration problems, finds a new study by UCL researchers. The research, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders , is the most up-to-date study of its kind, providing a meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 3,501 women who were going through the menopause in 14 countries, including the UK, USA, Iran, Australia, and China. Lead author, Professor Aimee Spector (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), said: "Women can spend a notable number of years in their lives dealing with a range of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood changes and brain fog. These symptoms can have a great impact on women's wellbeing and quality of life. "Menopause management is now a prioritised topic in public health. However, most studies of menopause symptom management focus on hormonal replacement therapy and physiological symptoms. This restricts treatment options for women who are concerned about the risks of hormone replacement therapy and overlooks the wellbeing of women with non-physiological symptoms, such as brain fog and mood problems, which are highly prevalent." The studies that were analysed examined the effects of several different kinds of therapies on mood, cognition and quality of life.