Search

Objectives The aim of this study was two-fold: to assess climacteric symptoms and provide normative data for the Greene Climacteric Scale during the menopause transition, and to investigate the prevalence of climacteric symptoms in a representative sample of postmenopausal Australian women. Method A cohort of 500 premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 40–80 years participated in the Longitudinal Study of Ageing in Women (LAW study) at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. In year 1 of the study (2001), all participants completed the Greene Climacteric Scale and information regarding their menopausal status and the use of hormone therapy (HT) was obtained through a clinical interview with a qualified medical practitioner. Results The 50–59-year age group achieved the highest scores on the vasomotor and the depression scales in comparison to other age groups. Significant differences were also evident on the vasomotor and the depression scales on the basis of menopausal status, especially in perimenopausal women. Approximately 10% of women in the 60–79-year age group continued to experience vasomotor symptoms. Conclusion Vasomotor symptoms, as assessed by the Greene Climacteric Scale, are common during the menopause transition and remain elevated for some years in a minority of older postmenopausal women. The norms presented in this study are appropriate for use in an Australian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal study of 144 parents (65 fathers, 79 mothers) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a program of intervention in relieving the psychological distress of parents a ected by infant death. Participants were assessed in terms of their psychiatric disturbance, depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and coping strategies. The experimental group (n=84) was offered an intervention program comprising the use of specially designed resources and contact with a trained grief worker. A control group (n=60) was given routine community care. Parental reactions were assessed at four to six weeks postloss (prior to the implementation of the intervention program), at six months postloss, and at 15 months postloss. A series of multivariate analyses of variance revealed that the intervention was effective in reducing the distress of parents, particularly those assessed prior to the intervention as being at high-risk of developing mourning difficulties. Effects of the intervention were noted in terms of parents overall psychiatric disturbance, marital quality, and paternal coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]