Sometimes evidence proves what was long-suspected to be true.

A new study, just published in JAMA Psychiatry shows women who took hormone replacement therapy early in the menopausal transition had almost half the risk of developing clinically significant depressive symptoms compared to women who took a placebo.

The study also confirmed that women of this age and stage are at high risk of significant depression, with almost one third of women in the placebo group developing symptoms and signs of the condition over the 12 month study period.