# ESTROGEN TREATMENT OF MOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE MENOPAUSE

> **NIH NIH R01** · WORCESTER FOUNDATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RES · 1990 · $123,351

## Abstract

The mood and behavior changes often associated with aging and the
menopause bear directly on the quality of life, and include
anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, loss of interest and depression.
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been reported to have a
beneficial effect on some of these mood and behavior changes.  The
mechanism by which estrogen achieves these beneficial effects has
not been delineated.  Considerable evidence exists that estrogen
has a neuropharmacologic effect on adrenergic and serotoninergic
function.  One specific aim is to relate ERT's effects on mood and
behavior to platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and EEG
"driving" responses, noninvasive and easily accessible indices
which theoretically relate to central nervous system (CNS)
adrenergic and serotoninergic functioning.  Establishment of such
relationships would give support to the argument that the mood and
behavior changes associated with the menopause are secondary to a
CNS estrogen deficiency which is most rationally treated by
estrogen replacement.  ERT is complicated by the need to administer
a progestin cyclically with estrogen to counter the risk of
endometrial carcinoma.  There are reports that the addition of a
progestin lessens the beneficial effect of ERT.  Another aim of
this proposal would be to evaluate the effect of the addition of
a progestin to ERT.  The aims of this proposal would be
accomplished via a double-blind crossover study of 80 menopausal
women.  Estrogen treatment or placebos would be administered over
five 28-day cycles.  The hormonal treatment would consist of the
administration of estropipate 1.5 mg for 28 days with the addition
of norethindrone 1.0 mg the last 10 days of estrogen treatment.
Profile of Mood States, Hamilton Scale of Depression, platelet MAO
activity and EEG "driving" responses would be assessed on cycle
days 9 and 22 of each cycle.  Statistical analysis of the data will
consist of intercorrelations and repeated measures analyses of
variance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120498
- **Project number:** 1R01AG008751-01
- **Recipient organization:** WORCESTER FOUNDATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RES
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD L KLAIBER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $123,351
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1990-01-01 → 1992-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120498

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120498, ESTROGEN TREATMENT OF MOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE MENOPAUSE (1R01AG008751-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120498. Licensed CC0.

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