Index
Managing depression in peri-menopausal women study
Evaluating the potential benefits of managing depression combining counselling with osteopathic manipulative treatment.
Peri-menopause and depression
Peri-menopause is the time leading up to the last menstrual period a woman has. This last menstrual period is known as menopause and can only be determined after twelve months of amenorrhea, or no periods. Peri-menopause can last for several years and during this time up to 80% of women may experience symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushes, poor concentration, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Peri-menopausal women with no prior history of depression have a significant risk of experiencing new onset depression or depressed mood.1
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine that focuses on the overall health of a patient by treating via the musculoskeletal system. They use a variety of techniques ranging from the very obvious, such as soft tissue massage, manipulation, etc., to the very subtle techniques like the cranial technique.
The study
The study is recruiting volunteers aged between 45 – 60 years, who are experiencing menopausal symptoms and mood changes. They will be offered counselling or a combined treatment of counselling and OMT. The study has two phases: an eight week period where CBT and the OMT consultations will be conducted, and a final CBT consultation three months later. It is anticipated that between 1-2 hours a week, plus travel time would be required of participants.
The OMT will be undertaken by a registered osteopath with a minimum of five years experience. The counselling sessions will be undertaken by provisional psychologists under supervision. All consultations will be conducted on the Bundoora campus of RMIT University.
The research team
Dr Paula Henderson is undertaking this project as part of a Master of Osteopathy degree. A pilot study conducted in America indicated that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in conjunction with standard psychiatric management may be a useful adjunct to managing depression in women.2 Dr Henderson’s current project aims to provide further supporting evidence that OMT can contribute to the management of depressive symptoms in women with menopausal symptoms.
The research supervisors include:
- Prof. Eleanor Holroyd, PhD Medical Anthropology (Sociology), Master of Applied Science, Postgrad Dip Midwifery, B. App. Sc Nursing, Dip Nursing;
- Dr Keong Yap, Clinic Supervisor, B.Soc.Sci (Hons), D.Psych. This project has been approved by the RMIT University Human Ethics Research Committee.
Interested in participating or want to know more about the study?
For more information please contact:
Dr Paula Henderson
Tel.: +61 3 9925 7221
Email: paula.henderson@rmit.edu.au
1. Cohen, L.S., Soares, C. N., Vitonis, A.F., Otto, M.W., & Harlow, B.L. (2006). Risk for New Onset of Depression During the Menopausal Transition. Archives of General Psychiatry63(April), 385-390.
2. Plotkin, B.J, Rodos, J.J, Kappler, R, Schrage, M, Freydl, K, Hasegawa, S, et al. (2001). Adjunctive osteopathic manipulative treatment in women with depression: a pilot study. Journal of American Osteopathic Association, 101(9), 517-523.