Background. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathic disorder commonly affecting women in the reproductive age. These women have a possibility of developing depression and anxiety due to biochemical changes, concerns regarding physical appearance, and social pressure from infertility. Thus, the connection between PCOS, anxiety, and depression has a possible impact on patients’ quality of life. This study is aimed at assessing depression and anxiety symptoms among PCOS patients and their association with different socioeconomic aspects. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess depression and anxiety symptoms on 250 PCOS patients which were selected through consecutive sampling technique. Arabic versions of the HAM-A and HAM-D questionnaires were used alongside a demographic sheet to determine the socioeconomic and fertility status. Results. Prevalence of anxiety symptoms was reported among 100 (40%) of women and was found to be significantly higher in single women with a prevalence of 59 (48%) ( χ 2 = 5.8 , p value <0.01). Also, lower-income status and unemployment were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety 18 (67%) ( χ 2 = 10.3 , p value =0.03) and 71 (45%) ( χ 2 = 4.5 , p value =0.03) women, respectively. Depressive symptoms were reported among 122 (49%) participants. Conclusion. Single marital status, low income, and unemployment were predictors of anxiety. Tension was noted to be the most common anxiety symptom among participants while depressed mood and psychological anxiety were the most reported depressive symptoms. It is important to note the link between anxiety, PCOS, and depression when deciding treatment plans for affected women.

Spatial orientation is achieved by integrating visual, vestibular and proprioceptive cues. Individuals that rely strongly upon visual cues to facilitate spatial orientation are termed visually dependent. Heightened visual reliance commonly occurs in patients following vestibular dysfunction and can influence clinical outcome. Additionally, psychological factors, including anxiety, are associated with poorer clinical outcome following vestibular dysfunction. Given that visual dependency measures are affected by psychological and contextual influences, such as time pressure, we investigated the interaction between time pressure and anxiety upon visual dependency in healthy controls and vestibular migraine patients. Visual dependency was assessed using a “Rod and Disk” task at baseline and under time pressure (3 s to complete the task). Non‐situational (trait) and situational (state) anxiety levels were quantified using the Spielberg State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. We calculated the change in visual dependency (VD) [∆VD = VDtime pressure − VDbaseline] and correlated it with participants’ trait anxiety scores. We observed a significant negative correlation between trait anxiety and the change in VD (R2 = .393, p < .001) in healthy controls and a positive correlation in dizzy patients (R2 = .317, p < .001). That is, healthy individuals that were more anxious became less visually dependent under time pressure (i.e., more accurate), whereas less anxious individuals became more visually dependent. The reverse was observed in vestibular migraine patients. Our results illustrate that anxiety can differentially modulate task performance during spatial orientation judgements under time pressure in healthy individuals and dizzy patients. These findings have potential implications for individualised patient rehabilitation therapies.

Introduction. Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) entails a preoccupation with having a serious, undiagnosed illness in which somatic symptoms are, if present, mild in intensity (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Case Report. This is a case of seventy-three-year-old Saudi man who started visiting the primary health care center around twenty-five years ago. With concerns of having cancer, the patient continuously visited the hospital, costing over $170,000. Throughout this period, the patient has been exposed to extensive unnecessary imaging studies and laboratory tests that have effects on his life in all aspects with such concerns. Five years ago, a family doctor has put an end to that by directing the patient to the right path. The doctor made several actions; most importantly, he directed the patient to a cognitive behavioral therapy which significantly improved a range of hypochondriacal beliefs and attitudes. This patient's case demonstrates the fundamental importance of a proper health system that limits such patients from abusing the health system and depleting the medical resources. Moreover, this case emphasizes the important role of the family physician who can be the first physician to encounter such patients. Thus, proper understanding of the nature of such disorder is a key element for better diagnosis and management.

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