The climateric is known as a period of the woman’s life cycle full of emotional shifts and psychopathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a hypochondriac personality pattern and the occurrence of climateric syndrome depressive symptoms. One hundred and eighteen (118) women seeking medical care for climateric symptoms were evaluated; 43 post-menopausal women (45-55 years) with somatic and psychological symptoms of the climateric syndrome were selected. Somatic symptoms were evaluated by the menopausal index (MI). Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated by the Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D) and the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI). The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of the depressive symptoms. Patients with HAM-D scores > or = 15 were assigned to group I and those with HAM-D scores < 15 were allocated to group II. Comparing MMPI evaluation of the two groups we found no significant statistical difference of "neurotic triad" personality traits characteristic of hypochondriacal behavior. Thus, the occurrence of depressive symptoms in the climateric syndrome in this population could not be associated with the presence of hypochondriacal traits.
Menopause; Personality; Hypochondria; Depression; Psychoneuroendocrinology
