How do you decide between initiating antidepressants vs. hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal depression?  

I think the most logical answer to this is to treat what is deficient. The Women's Health Initiative Study and the following media reports on it were one of the most damaging OB/GYN and psychiatric mishaps in recent history, scaring half of women off of their HRT in a 6-month period. For some reason...

As a perinatal psychiatrist, I often prescribe SSRIs and SNRIs to target menopausal mood disturbances, anxiety, and vasomotor symptoms. Gabapentin is also often a helpful treatment for managing anxiety and hot flashes during the menopausal transition. If a patient is interested in hormone replacemen...