[en] Major depression has been repeatedly but not consistently reported to be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and to an increased risk for fracture in women. We have investigated, in healthy postmenopausal women, whether depressive symptomatology, assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), was associated to a significant decrease in BMD, hence supporting the hypothesis of an independent pathogenetic link between the two disorders. We investigated 121 postmenopausal women, aged 48-77 years, spontaneously attending a screening visit for osteoporosis in an outpatient facility. BMD of the spine and the non-dominant hip (total and neck areas) were measured by Dual Energy X-Ray absorptiometry. All subjects completed to the 'General Health Questionnaire' translated and validated in French. No significant correlations were observed between the GHQ score and BMD of the spine (P = 0.54), the total hip area (P = 0.65), or the femoral neck area (P = 0.65). No differences in terms of spinal or femoral BMD were observed between women with GHQ score < 5 or > or = 5. When comparing values of BMD between women within the upper and the lower quartiles for GHQ score, no difference was observed for spine (P = 0.69), total hip (P = 0.80), or femoral neck (P = 0.93). Similarly, GHQ scores were not significantly different when comparing women in the upper and lower quartiles of BMD distribution at the spine or the hip. In conclusion, notwithstanding the clinical pattern of postmenopausal osteoporosis can lead to depression and, on the other hand, hormonal and behavioral disturbances reported in depression might be enhancing factors for accelerated bone loss, our present results do not support the hypothesis that otherwise healthy postmenopausal women with increased depressive complaints are also more prone to exhibit osteoporotic fractures.
Disciplines :
Rheumatology
Author, co-author :
Reginster, Jean-Yves ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Médecine de l'appareil locomoteur
Deroisy, Rita ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Médecine de l'appareil locomoteur
Paul, I.
Hansenne, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cognitives > Psycho. de la personnalité et des différences individuelles
Ansseau, Marc ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Language :
English
Title :
Depressive vulnerability is not an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Publication date :
1999
Journal title :
Maturitas
ISSN :
0378-5122
eISSN :
1873-4111
Publisher :
Elsevier North Holland Biomedical Press, Limerick, Ireland
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