Depression in Young Women Linked to Low Bone Mass

Depression in premenopausal women is a risk factor for later osteoporosis, says a new report from National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) researchers.

Giovanni Cizza, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues from the NIH report that young women with major depressive disorder had a bone mineral density, particularly at the hip, that was about 2% lower than that for nondepressed controls.

Because small deficits in bone density translate into large increases in fracture rates, these women are at particular risk for fractures due to osteoporosis following menopause, according to the researchers.

The authors of the report speculate that perhaps depression during their adolescence may have interfered with achievement of full bone mass.

The researchers noted that the usefulness of antidepressants for bone mineral loss in major depression would be a good topic for future research.

The report appears in the November 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.