Sertraline in the Treatment of Depression Associated with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Therapy

Background: Endometriosis is thought to affect 5–10% of reproductive age women in the general population and is commonly treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. Recent studies suggest depressive symptoms are associated with women treated with GnRH agonist for endometriosis. Methods: A retrospective pilot study of 42 female patients, 22 in the treatment group (sertraline) and 20 in the control group (no sertraline), was conducted. All subjects had laproscopically diagnosed endometriosis and were treated with 24 weeks of GnRH agonist therapy. Assessment instruments included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Menopausal Symptom Index. Results: The results indicate that patients receiving concomitant sertraline reported significantly less depressive symptoms, but did not differ significantly in physical symptoms, than the group receiving a GnRH agonist alone. Conclusions: Antidepressants, such as sertraline, appear to be significantly helpful in the treatment of mood symptoms during the course of GnRH agonist therapy.