Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T04:15:34.651Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mind Over Menopause: Bridging the Gap in Mental Health Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2024

Alexandra Thatcher
Affiliation:
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Catherine Graham*
Affiliation:
Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
Grace Denton
Affiliation:
Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
Katherine Kearly-Shiers
Affiliation:
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
Kristyn Manley
Affiliation:
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
*
*Presenting author.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Aims

The effect of menopause on mental health is increasingly well recognised. Studies assessing peri- and post-menopausal women report higher incidences of depression and anxiety. Without recognition and treatment, the negative impact on mental health during menopause can lead to long-lasting effects on quality of life. NICE and the British Menopause Society (BMS) guidelines recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and an individualised approach, for women experiencing depression and anxiety as a result of menopause. The aim of this project was to collect data relating to the provision of mental health interventions (and how they are accessed) for women seeing menopause specialists across the UK. This data can then be used to inform and promote improvements in the delivery of care for menopause mood symptoms.

Methods

An expert panel of psychiatry, gynaecology and general practice clinicians designed an online survey which considered NICE/BMS guidance, the current evidence base and local referral/funding pathways. This was piloted on health care professionals in primary and secondary care before review by BMS Council Members. A link to the survey was distributed via email to members of the BMS on one occasion.

Results

139 responses were received from menopause specialists across the 15 UK Deaneries. 71% worked in primary care and 29% in secondary care. 65% of clinicians offer CBT for mood symptoms but 99% reported suboptimal provision of this intervention. 43% of respondents reported over half of their patients with mood symptoms would benefit from psychological support, however 80% do not have a designated mental health wellbeing practitioner. 35% of specialists have referred complex patients to secondary mental health services. When asked what mental health resources would be most beneficial for their patients, 83% desired improved access to CBT, 65% psychological support attached to all menopause clinics, 53% guidance on managing mood symptoms in menopause and 39% an MDT clinic.

Conclusion

The data suggests that complex mood disorders are common in women presenting to menopause services and require non-hormonal interventions to support benefits seen with HRT. The results suggest poor provision of psychological interventions, particularly talking therapies, for women experiencing mood disorders as part of their menopause. Improved cross-specialty working and training, and improved access to CBT were identified as methods of addressing this. Locally, these results have formed the basis of a service funding bid for CBT and development of a pilot cross-speciality gynaecology/psychiatry MDT Hub.

Type
4 Service Evaluation
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists

Footnotes

Abstracts were reviewed by the RCPsych Academic Faculty rather than by the standard BJPsych Open peer review process and should not be quoted as peer-reviewed by BJPsych Open in any subsequent publication.

Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.