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.