Abstracts

Rationale: The psychiatric and physiologic effects of menopause on women with epilepsy have not been systematically investigated. In this study, our objective was to investigate the association of depressive symptoms and vasomotor symptoms in women with epilepsy stratified by menopause phase (pre, peri, and postmenopause). Methods: We conducted a survey of women with epilepsy, ages of 40-60, attending the Cleveland Clinic outpatient Epilepsy Center. These women were invited to complete a face to face questionnaire, which consisted of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Menopause Related Quality of Life Scale (MENQOL), Fund of knowledge of menopause questionnaire developed by the Institute of Aging, and overall severity of illness using the Clinical Global Impressions. The statistical analysis relied primarily on descriptive analyses. The study was IRB approved. Results: Fifty three women, between the ages of 40-60, completed the questionnaires. Depression as defined by a CES D > 25 was observed in 35% of the peri and postmenopausal women and 22% of premenopausal women. The MENQOL data showed perimenopausal women experienced more vasomotor symptoms than either pre or postmenopausal women, however this was not associated with higher risk for major depression. In the assessment of fund of knowledge regarding menopause, 76% of women in the perimenopausal group and 50% of the postmenopausal group scored high in the level of knowledge regarding the menopause transition. Conclusions: This study highlights women with epilepsy are at increased risk for depression during the menopause transition. Perimenopausal women are more affected by vasomotor symptoms as compared to menopausal women. Further investigation on the psychiatric and physiologic effects of menopause transition on women with epilepsy should result in increased awareness and enhanced care for this patient population.