HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AND DEPRESSION

1 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A method of hormone therapy in a woman, said woman having symptoms of depression, comprising administering to said woman dienogest, effective to achieve an anti-depressive effect and hormone therapy, wherein an estrogen is not administered to said woman.

25 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein said woman is a climacteric woman.

26 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein said woman is a postmenopausal woman.

27 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein the woman has been diagnosed with depression according to an official classification system, which is the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision (ICD-10) or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).

28 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein the dose of dienogest is 0.5 to 5.0 mg/day.

29 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein the dose of dienogest is about 2 mg/day.

30 . A method of hormone therapy in a woman, who is optionally postmenopausal, said woman having symptoms of depression, wherein the woman has been diagnosed with depression, optionally in the context of a postmenopausal syndrome, comprising administering to said woman dienogest, effective to achieve an anti-depressive effect and hormone therapy, wherein an estrogen is not administered to said woman.

31 . A method according to claim 30 , wherein as a result of hormone therapy, irregular bleeding, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, vaginal dryness, bladder problems, bone loss/osteoporosis, worsening of cognitive functions or of vigilance, attention, or concentration, skin or hair problems, or body shape changes, are treated and/or controlled.

32 . A method according to claim 30 , wherein the woman undergoing hormone therapy is a postmenopausal woman who has been diagnosed with depression.

33 . A method according to claim 32 , wherein the depression is in the context of a postmenopausal syndrome.