A comparison of the effect of estrogen with or without progesterone on mood and physical symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Using a randomized, placebo-controlled design, this study assessed the effects of estrogen alone (ES) or in combination with cyclic progesterone (EP) on daily ratings of mood and physical symptoms before and after 6 months of daily hormone treatment. Fifty-four postmenopausal women were recruited from the community at large and specifically selected as being asymptomatic at the time of enrollment and without significant psychiatric history. Ratings were obtained every day for 30 days prior to treatment and again every day during the last 30 days of treatment.