Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptom and disorder in menopausal outpatients at gynecologic departments of main China cities.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the four general hospitals from three main cities in China in 2004. Face-to-face interview were used to collect data, and the self-completed HAD scale was used to evaluate depressive and/or anxiety symptom. Subjects getting a HADS score > or = 9 were further assessed for depressive and/or anxiety disorders with HAMA and HAMD scales by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists.
Results: During the study, 306 eligible subjects were recruited from the outpatient of gynecologic departments continually within three months. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was evaluated by HADS as 11.1% and 12.4% respectively. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was evaluated by HADS as 11.1% and 12.4% respectively. And further HAMD/HAMA evaluation indicated that the proportion of depressive (HAMD > or = 17) and anxiety (HAMA > or = 14) symptoms were 6.2% and 9.8%, respectively. Insurance status were significantly associated with the proportion of depression and/or anxiety symptoms.
Conclusion: The prevalence of menopausal depressive and/or anxiety symptoms of this study was higher than those of other similar studies in Urban China. Special attention should be given to the menopausal women with lower education level and lack of medical insurance.