3.1. Selection and Characteristics of Studies
Of 2,183 studies related to postmenopausal depression that were
identified, 44 were selected for full-text review, and 10 studies with
19 independent reports were included in the meta-analysis (see
Fig.1)16,18,20,32-38.
These studies were published across
eight countries, including Japan, Korea, India, Brazil, Canada, Austria,
Australia, and Italy between 2002 and 2017, totaling 1,248
participants.
Six scales were used to evaluate
the depression index before and after treatment, including the center
for epidemiological studies depression scale (CED-S)7,
the Hamilton depression rating scale (HADS)39, the
Zung’s self-rating depression scale (SDS)40, the
profile of mood states (POMS)41, the Greene
postmenopausal scale (GSC)42 and the Kupperman
menopause index (KMI) 43. All the included studies in
this meta-analysis used the evaluation scales to evaluate depression in
postmenopausal women. Six studies were by clinician rating, three
studies were by self-rating, one study remained was assessed by both
clinician and self-rating. Characteristics of the studies are shown in
Table 1.