The Relationship between Clinico-Biochemical Characteristics and Psychiatric Distress in Young Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

The relationship between clinico-biochemical characteristics and self reported psychological parameters in 42 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 42 age-matched healthy controls was examined. The General Health Questionnaire was used (GHQ-12) to ascertain emotional distress and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to determine depressive symptoms. Emotional distress, depressive symptoms, hirsutism score, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, serum total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels and the insulin resistance index were significantly greater in women with PCOS than in healthy women. The BDI and GHQ-12 scores of the women with PCOS were significantly higher than those of the control group (BDI, 11.69 +/- 9.49 vs 5.80 +/- 4.58; GHQ-12, 3.38 +/- 3.38 vs 1.54 +/- 1.97, respectively), and BMI and WHR were positively correlated with the BDI and GHQ-12 scores. Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of emotional distress and depression in women with PCOS, especially those who are obese, and of the need to screen these patients for such symptoms.

Psychological investigation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…However, there is converging evidence to suggest that physical aspects of quality of life may be best predicted by obesity and hirsutism, whereas psychological components of quality of life may be more closely related to psychological impairment [2,31,32]. The results confirm Adali΄s and Hirschberg´s findings [6,32,33], suggesting that treatment of PCOS should tackle both physical and psychological complaints. This is because psychological distress reduces motivation, and yet good motivation is the key to comply with medication and dietary management of PCOS [23].…”

Evaluation of affective temperament and anxiety–depression levels of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…A previous meta-analysis highlighted that psychological distress is experienced by women affected by PCOS (Barry et al, 2011) and current studies demonstrate an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms and disorders (Legro et al, 2013). Women with PCOS are reported to experience depressive episodes approximately three times more frequently than healthy controls (HC) (Setji and Brown, 2014) and many explanations have been proposed for this relationship, such as negative body image associated with obesity, hirsutism, hyperandrogenism and acne, higher infertility rates and vitamin D deficiency (Stunkard et al, 2003;Weiner et al, 2004;Hollinrake et al, 2007;Adali et al, 2008;Kerchner et al, 2009;Bhattacharya and Jha, 2010;Jedel et al, 2010;Naqvi et al, 2015). All these factors could have an impact on depression in different ways in women with PCOS.…”

Increased Risk for Abnormal Depression Scores in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…13,19,24 In two of these studies, the risk of depression was significantly higher in participants with PCOS than it was in those in the control groups. 13,19 Some studies excluded women with prior psychiatric history or use of psychotropic medications, [21][22][23]25,28 and others included those currently using antidepressant drugs. 13 This may have contributed partially to the range of abnormal depression scores in the women with PCOS (14 -67%) and those in the control groups (2-35%).…”