Before we finish up I wanted to share some information on specific mental illnesses that can be impacted by menopause:
Schizophrenia
Some researchers have observed a worsening of the course of schizophrenia in women during the menopausal transition. There is research underway to understand what impact the decline of these hormones has on schizophrenia and what impact they were having before they started to decline.
Panic disorder
New-onset panic disorder may occur during menopause, or pre-existing panic disorder may worsen. Panic disorder may be most common in women with many physical symptoms of menopause. In a cross-sectional survey of 3,369 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years, panic attacks were most prevalent among women in the menopausal transition. These attacks were associated with negative life events, functional impairment, and medical comorbidity.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
New-onset OCD, a relapse of OCD, or a change in OCD symptoms may occur during menopause. Fluctuations in OCD have been correlated with the menstrual cycle and with pregnancy, suggesting that hormone levels may contribute to the disorder.
Bipolar disorder
Exacerbation of mood symptoms during menopause has been noted in women with pre-existing bipolar. Research has suggested that women with bipolar disorder have higher rates of depressive episodes during the menopausal transition. The frequency of depressive episodes in this population appears to be higher than during premenopausal years (as you mentioned @Mazarita).
The best way to manage this is to get educated as @Mazarita has said and work with your treating team on how to tackle potential exacerbation of symptoms related to pre-existing mental illnesses. Prevention and preparation are key!
