Cognitive-behavioral interventions for (peri)menopausal symptoms: A scoping review of interventions characteristics and content.

OBJECTIVES

Menopause transition is characterized by several changes that can impact a woman's well-being and mental health. Despite the increasing evidence on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for managing menopausal symptoms, research lacks a comprehensive synthesis of interventions' characteristics for this population. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated synthesis of the characteristics, content, and impact of cognitive-behavioral interventions on the treatment of psychological and/or (peri)menopausal symptoms.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included empirical studies published in English that described CBT interventions for (peri)menopausal women targeting psychological and/or menopausal symptoms. A literature search was conducted in two databases (PubMed and PsycINFO) and identified 921 articles, of which 40 were eligible and included in this review. The following data was extracted from included papers: publication details; study design; intervention goals; participants; therapeutic approach; delivery format; provider/facilitator; number and duration of sessions; duration of the intervention; main contents; outcomes; main findings.

RESULTS

Therapeutic approaches of the interventions included CBT, CBT for insomnia, mindfulness-based interventions, relaxation-based interventions and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Most interventions were delivered either in face-to-face group formats or individual face-to-face sessions, and a lack of internet-delivered interventions was identified. The median length of interventions was 8 sessions, with durations ranging from 4 to 12 weeks. The interventions combined different contents, with psychoeducation about menopause, cognitive and behavioral strategies, and relaxation techniques being the most frequently identified. The studies targeted a wide range of outcomes, and the evidence demonstrated that CBT positively impacted symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep difficulties, vasomotor symptoms, sexual concerns and perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS/PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This review can inform health professionals' clinical practice and guide researchers in developing new interventions targeting (peri)menopausal women, as it provides a synthesis about the relevant characteristics and content of current CBT interventions.