Irritability is one of the complaints of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women yet there is lack of studies and evidence on this subject.
According to a recent study evaluating between menopause with sex steroids, gonadotrophins, prolactin and thyroid hormones and with samples including of 163 women, with a mean age of 55.1 years (SD = 5.7) in relation to 124 postmenopausal and 26 perimenopausal women, women with chronic disease run a high score on inward and outward irritability scales. Though this fact is not specifically linked with menopause yet it may be influenced partially by the growing age of menopausal women.
From News-Medical.Net:
The subjects completed the Irritability, Depression, Anxiety Scale, which is an 18-item self-report scale that assesses irritability as a temporary psychological state. Irritability is divided into ‘outwardly directed’ if it is expressed toward others and ‘inwardly directed’ if it is directed toward oneself. Climacteric symptoms were evaluated by Greene’s scale, which provides subscores for vasomotor symptoms. Insomnia was measured by the Athens Insomnia Scale. Chronic disease refers to the existence of hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus or thyroid disease.
The study sample consisted of 163 women, with a mean age of 55.1 years (SD = 5.7). Of the total sample, 124 women were postmenopausal and 26 perimenopausal. Fifty-four women suffered from chronic disease. The mean score for inward irritability was 5.1 (SD = 2.4) and 5.9 (SD = 2.7) for outward irritability. The mean scores for inward and outward irritability, insomnia and vasomotor symptoms were not different between peri- and postmenopausal women (analysis of covariance, p > 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between outward irritability and FSH (r = 0.25,p = 0.005) and LH levels (r = 0.26, p = 0.006). There was no significant association between inward irritability and hormonal levels. No significant relationships were detected between vasomotor symptoms, insomnia and menopausal status and the 2 subscales of irritability.
The study results are seen by many as suggesting results indicating a possible link between menopause and outward irritability.
