Talking therapies may improve menopause-related mood symptoms

Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques may reduce anxiety and depression in women going through the menopause, new research has found.

The study, which provides a meta-analysis of 30 studies involving more than 3,500 women across 14 countries, found these talking therapies may also improve memory and concentration problems.

Senior author Dr Roopal Desai said GPs and healthcare providers often struggle to know what to offer beyond medical treatment, and this research will “help give GPs and patients more options.”

Further reading: Menopause and depression

Study examined the effects of several therapy types

Of the 30 studies included in the meta-analysis, 10 studies provided CBT, nine provided Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), and the remaining 11 considered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), group counselling, marital support, health promotion coaching, and emotional freedom techniques.

As well as providing cognitive and behavioural strategies, the studies which used CBT interventions also provided education for women about the psychological symptoms of menopause, relaxation techniques and symptom monitoring.

Those that used MBI-based therapies promoted a non-judgemental understanding of symptoms and focused on the present experiences of the women involved.

Symptoms were measured before and after treatment using standardised reporting measures, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 and the GAD7 questionnaire.

The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, is the first to consider other forms and doses of therapy, alongside assessing which type is best for different symptoms.

CBT the most cost-effective option for menopause management

All of the psychosocial interventions were effective in improving quality of life, regardless of their type.

Women going through the menopause showed statistically significant improvements in anxiety and depression following CBT and MBI when compared to no or alternative treatments, equating to small to medium changes in life.

Participants undertaking CBT and group-based psychosocial interventions also saw improvements in their memory and concentration levels.

Compared to other interventions, CBT was found to be the most cost-effective option for menopause management, as it requires a shorter course of treatment compared to other therapies.

Draft NICE guidance promotes CBT as treatment option for menopause

However, the study did have some limitations, including that the study is unable to consider the best stage of the menopause to deliver interventions, and it cannot account for long term symptom changes that occur with different types of therapy.

Nevertheless, Co-author Zishi Li said: “This study provides encouraging evidence to support the use of psychosocial interventions for managing non-physiological menopausal symptoms.

“This is in line with the NICE Menopause guidelines, updated in 2023 and currently in the consultation phase, which promote CBT as a treatment option.”