Mental illness and menopause: a patient and family perspective.

Background: Menopause is a significant biological event in the life of every woman, including women with mental disorders. This brief report describes the results of a survey of 39 patients with mental illness and their family members regarding perceived effects of menopause on mental illness.

Methods: The survey was distributed to participants attending a National Alliance for the Mentally Ill educational presentation on menopause and mental health.