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Review
. 2017 Dec 28:10:1-9.
doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S147006. eCollection 2018.

Emerging evidence on the link between depressive symptoms and bone loss in postmenopausal women

Elizabeth Mollard  1 , Laura Bilek  2 , Nancy Waltman  1
Affiliations
Review

Emerging evidence on the link between depressive symptoms and bone loss in postmenopausal women

Elizabeth Mollard et al. Int J Womens Health. .

Abstract

Osteoporosis and depression are major health problems of crisis proportions in postmenopausal women. Researchers have established a relationship between bone loss and depression, although few studies have focused on postmenopausal women. The purposes of this integrative review were to synthesize and summarize the available literature on: 1) the associations between bone loss and depression in postmenopausal women; and 2) potential variables that impact the associations between bone loss and depression in postmenopausal women. After searching the databases PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and the Cochrane library between 2007 and 2017, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the included studies supported the relationship between depression and bone loss in postmenopausal women, although little information is offered as to why this relationship exists. This review summarizes the research that has been completed on depression and bone loss in postmenopausal women and identifies gaps in the literature. These findings will aid in the planning of future research and the development of health care recommendations.

Keywords: depression; osteopenia; osteoporosis; parathyroid; physical activity; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Some of the proposed variables in the relationship between depressive symptom and bone loss.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Selection of articles for inclusion in the literature review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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