Tania Perich1,2, Jane Ussher3, Chloe Parton3. 1. Clinical and Health Psychology Research Initiative (CaHPRI), School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia. t.perich@westernsydney.edu.au. 2. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. t.perich@westernsydney.edu.au. 3. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Menopause can be a time of change for women and may be marked by disturbances in mood. For women living with a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, little is known about how they experience mood changes during menopause. This study aimed to explore how women with bipolar disorder constructed mood changes during menopause and how this impacted on treatment decisions. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with fifteen women who reported they had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Data was analysed using thematic analysis guided by a social constructionist framework. RESULTS: Themes identified included 'Constructions of mood change: menopause or bipolar disorder?',' Life events, bipolar disorder and menopause coming together'; 'Treatment choices for mood change during menopause'. CONCLUSIONS: The accounts suggested that women related to the experience of mood changes during menopause through the lens of their existing framework of bipolar disorder, with implications for understanding of self and treatment choices.
BACKGROUND: Menopause can be a time of change for women and may be marked by disturbances in mood. For women living with a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, little is known about how they experience mood changes during menopause. This study aimed to explore how women with bipolar disorder constructed mood changes during menopause and how this impacted on treatment decisions. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with fifteen women who reported they had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Data was analysed using thematic analysis guided by a social constructionist framework. RESULTS: Themes identified included 'Constructions of mood change: menopause or bipolar disorder?',' Life events, bipolar disorder and menopause coming together'; 'Treatment choices for mood change during menopause'. CONCLUSIONS: The accounts suggested that women related to the experience of mood changes during menopause through the lens of their existing framework of bipolar disorder, with implications for understanding of self and treatment choices.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bipolar disorder; Menopause; women’s health; women’s mental health
Authors: Tania A Perich; Gloria Roberts; Andrew Frankland; Carina Sinbandhit; Tanya Meade; Marie-Paul Austin; Philip B Mitchell Journal: Aust N Z J Psychiatry Date: 2016-09-30 Impact factor: 5.744
Authors: Jennifer L Gordon; David R Rubinow; Tory A Eisenlohr-Moul; Jane Leserman; Susan S Girdler Journal: Menopause Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 2.953