---
title: How does estrogen affect mood and depression? | Niyora
description: Estrogen affects how serotonin works in the brain. Some women's depression improves with estrogen therapy alone, while others need estrogen combined with anti
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/estrogen-serotonin-and-mood-disturbance-where-is-the-therapeutic-bridge-1998/
---

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- How does estrogen affect mood and depression?

Survey study, 1998

# How does estrogen affect mood and depression?

Estrogen affects how serotonin works in the brain. Some women's depression improves with estrogen therapy alone, while others need estrogen combined with antidepressants.

 Moderate study design

Literature review (not a new study of specific women)

## What they did

This is a review of published research on how estrogen and serotonin affect mood and depression in women. It covers women's whole lives, from adolescence through menopause.

## What they found

Estrogen changes how serotonin works in the brain. In some studies, estrogen alone helped depression. In others, estrogen worked better when combined with standard antidepressants. Some women responded better to hormone-based treatment than others.

## What it means for you

The way estrogen and serotonin interact may explain why some women are more prone to depression when their hormones change. This is a summary of existing research rather than new findings. It suggests possible connections but does not provide proof.

## About the study

Original title Estrogen, serotonin, and mood disturbance: where is the therapeutic bridge? Authors Joffe H, Cohen LS Journal Biological psychiatry Year 1998 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00169-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00169-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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