Bioidentical Estrogen for Menopausal Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Proponents of bioidentical estrogens claim that they are superior for treating menopausal symptoms, including depressive symptoms. Small trials examining the effects of bioidentical estrogens on depressive symptoms show conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness and safety of bioidentical estrogens for treatment of depressive symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Challenges of withdrawal from chronic antidepressant medication: a healing odyssey.

We report the case of a woman with posttraumatic stress disorder secondary to childhood sexual assault who attempted withdrawal from long-term use of antidepressant medication and experimented with a plethora of different therapies. The complex case history illustrates the potential difficulty of withdrawal from chronic antidepressant medication and the role of integrative therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder.