Irritability and Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Macedonio Melloni Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, 20129 Milan, Italy
- 2School of Industrial sEngineering, University Cattaneo (LIUC), 21053 Castellanza, Italy
- 3Intelligence, Complexity, and Technology Lab (ICT Lab), University Cattaneo (LIUC), 21053 Castellanza, Italy
- 4Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Napoli 1 Centro, 80125 Naples, Italy
- 5Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- 6Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco”, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
- 7“Aldo Ravelli” Center for Nanotechnology and Neurostimulation, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy
- 8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- 9Centro per lo Studio dei Meccanismi Molecolari alla Base delle Patologie Neuro-Psico-Geriatriche, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Abstract
Background: The menopausal transition is frequently associated with affective symptoms, including irritability, which remains relatively understudied despite its clinical relevance. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may influence affective symptoms through hormonal and metabolic mechanisms, including modulation of oxidative stress. However, the relationship between HRT and irritability in menopausal women remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 84 women attending a menopause clinic between 2020 and 2025. Irritability was assessed using the single irritability item of the Greene Climacteric Scale. Associations between HRT use and irritability were explored using descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and exploratory predictive modelling controlling for age and clinical variables. Results: Approximately 27% of participants were receiving HRT. Descriptive analyses suggested higher HRT use among women reporting irritability compared with those without irritability. However, multivariable models did not confirm a statistically significant association between irritability and HRT use (OR = 1.66, p = 0.244). Age was the only variable significantly associated with HRT use (OR = 0.89, p = 0.009). Exploratory differences in psychopharmacological prescribing patterns did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In this clinical sample, irritability was a common symptom during the menopausal transition but was not significantly associated with HRT use. The medication-class findings were exploratory and did not establish an association with irritability. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relationship between hormonal treatments and affective symptoms in menopause.
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BibTeX
@article{olivola2026irritability,
title = {{Irritability and Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Miriam Olivola and Andrea Agosta and Antonella Consonni and Roberta de Filippis and Francesca Regispani and Lucia Margherita Reina and Vassilis Martiadis and Gabriella Fantini and Barbara Sanna and Lucia Calò and Erika Ciocca and Roberta Anniverno and Bernardo Maria Dell’Osso},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15207956},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7956},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Irritability and Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Miriam Olivola
AU - Andrea Agosta
AU - Antonella Consonni
AU - Roberta de Filippis
AU - Francesca Regispani
AU - Lucia Margherita Reina
AU - Vassilis Martiadis
AU - Gabriella Fantini
AU - Barbara Sanna
AU - Lucia Calò
AU - Erika Ciocca
AU - Roberta Anniverno
AU - Bernardo Maria Dell’Osso
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15207956
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7956
AB - Background: The menopausal transition is frequently associated with affective symptoms, including irritability, which remains relatively understudied despite its clinical relevance. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may influence affective symptoms through hormonal and metabolic mechanisms, including modulation of oxidative stress. However, the relationship between HRT and irritability in menopausal women remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 84 women attending a menopause clinic between 2020 and 2025. Irritability was assessed using the single irritability item of the Greene Climacteric Scale. Associations between HRT use and irritability were explored using descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and exploratory predictive modelling controlling for age and clinical variables. Results: Approximately 27% of participants were receiving HRT. Descriptive analyses suggested higher HRT use among women reporting irritability compared with those without irritability. However, multivariable models did not confirm a statistically significant association between irritability and HRT use (OR = 1.66, p = 0.244). Age was the only variable significantly associated with HRT use (OR = 0.89, p = 0.009). Exploratory differences in psychopharmacological prescribing patterns did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In this clinical sample, irritability was a common symptom during the menopausal transition but was not significantly associated with HRT use. The medication-class findings were exploratory and did not establish an association with irritability. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relationship between hormonal treatments and affective symptoms in menopause.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -