Mood disorders and quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-10% of the population of women. The exact etiology of PCOS remains unclear, but it is believed to result from complex interactions between genetic, behavioral and environmental factors. The spectrum of its symptoms such as hirsutism, skin problems, obesity and finally infertility has a huge negative impact on the individuals' psychological and interpersonal functioning. PCOS symptoms can lead to significant deterioration in quality of life and be highly stressful negatively affecting psychological well-being and sexuality. Fear symptoms like palpitation, being out of breath and tension might be caused by many somatic diseases. Moreover, detection and continuous thinking about illness can lead to significant negative impact on individual functioning in society. PCOS may be a factor potentially favoring the occurrence of mood disorders and depression. Biological, social and psychological consequences of PCOS among women of reproductive age are opening a new perspective on management of women's health in these patients.

Psychosomatic Aspects of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Review

“…Depression, according to previous research, had the highest prevalence, from 28% to 64%, among patients with PCOS (9,14). The other symptoms of PCOS included feeling ill, depressed mood, melancholy, and sadness.…”

“…There are several features for characterizing PCOS, such as menstrual disturbances (amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea) and hyperadrogenism (hirsutism or acne, and very often obesity). Besides, chronic anovulation and infertility are the prevalent consequences of PCOS (9). It is common for almost all females diagnosed with PCOS to have negative emotions of frustration, anxiety, and to a lesser extent, sadness (8,10).…”

“…However, several disorders such as changes in appearance, irregular or absent menstrual periods, and possibly disturbances in sexual attitudes and behavior (8) can lead to psychological distress and impaired emotional well-being (6,11). These can impact the patients' feminine identity and create psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, as well as marital and social maladjustment (9,12). Almost all of the females diagnosed with PCOS had experienced significant levels of psychological disorders in all dimensions of their life compared to the general population (13,14), with anxiety and depression, social interaction, body image and body weight, eating problems, hirsutism, fertility, and decreased Quality of Life (QOL) being the main consequences of psychosocial problems in PCOS (15,16).…”

“…The other symptoms of PCOS included feeling ill, depressed mood, melancholy, and sadness. However, the cause of these disorders was not clear (9). Impact of high androgen levels on mood disturbances can be one of the reasons for the high prevalence of depression.…”

“…Another common disturbance that causes difficulty for females with PCOS is anxiety, which has a prevalence rate of 34% to 57% (9). One of the main reasons for anxiety is persistent fears regarding loss of sexuality, loss of fertility, and inability to have children (24).…”