Spiritual and psychological aspects of menopause

Abstract

This chapter reviews the most common psychological features of menopause and recent research regarding anxiety, depression, and social factors. Women's religious and spiritual beliefs play an important role in their views of life and medical illness. Commonly used tools that assist in gathering spiritual and religious information from patients are the FAITH and HOPE questionnaires. The FAITH tool addresses issues of religious faith and may be more useful when the clinician is aware that the patient is religious. Spiritual counseling is full of ethical challenges, including issues of autonomy, authority, confidentiality, and coercion. Cross-cultural studies indicate that women from different cultures cope with menopause differently. Anxiety disorders should be treated with medicines indicated for that purpose, including benzodiazepines, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and tricyclic agents. Physicians treating patients during menopause should be alert for psychological and spiritual issues, and be familiar with treatment options, including pharmacotherapy, exercise, and counseling.