Women are disproportionately admitted to hospital for depression and bipolar disorder when aged 45-54, suggesting a link to menopause, Australian researchers say.

Their population-based study, published in Australasian Psychiatry this month, found that women aged 45-54 spent a total of 16,150 more days in hospital than men of the same age for major mental health conditions: depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

“It’s been clear for some time that there is a link between menopause, when not managed appropriately, and worsening of some pre-existing mental health conditions,” said obstetrician and co-author Professor Steve Robson.

“But to our surprise, there was little research, certainly large population-level research, on major mental health conditions.”