Differential Contributions of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Manifestations to Psychological Symptoms

Overview

Journal J Behav Health Serv Res

Publisher Springer

Specialty Health Services

Date 2014 Jan 7

PMID 24390359

Citations 6

Authors

Judy G McCook

Beth A Bailey

Stacey L Williams

Sheeba Anand

Nancy E Reame

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of previously identified Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) manifestations (infertility, hirsutism, obesity, menstrual problems) to multiple psychological symptoms. Participants were 126 female endocrinology patient volunteers diagnosed with PCOS who completed a cross-sectional study of PCOS manifestations and psychological symptoms. Participants had significantly elevated scores on nine subscales of psychological symptoms. Menstrual problems were significantly associated with all symptom subscales as well as the global indicator, while hirsutism and obesity were significantly related to five or more subscales. After controlling for demographic factors, menstrual problems were the strongest predictor of psychological symptoms. Findings suggest features of excess body hair, obesity, and menstrual abnormalities carry unique risks for adverse psychologic symptoms, but menstrual problems may be the most salient of these features and deserve particular attention as a marker for psychological risk among women with PCOS.

Citing Articles

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome After Bariatric Surgery.

Haley E, Coyne P, Carlin A, Santarossa S, Loree A, Braciszewski J Obes Surg. 2025; 35(2):419-425.

PMID: 39821895 PMC: 11891969. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-024-07633-3.

Can Psychosocial Intervention Suppress Testosterone and Triglycerides Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? A Feasibility Trial.

Yin M, Du L, Zou X, Fung Y, Sun Y, Chan C Front Psychol. 2021; 12:690539.

PMID: 34367014 PMC: 8339270. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.690539.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and its impact on Iranian women's quality of life: a population-based study.

Behboodi Moghadam Z, Fereidooni B, Saffari M, Montazeri A BMC Womens Health. 2018; 18(1):164.

PMID: 30305063 PMC: 6180458. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0658-1.

Measures of health-related quality of life in PCOS women: a systematic review.

Behboodi Moghadam Z, Fereidooni B, Saffari M, Montazeri A Int J Womens Health. 2018; 10:397-408.

PMID: 30123008 PMC: 6078086. DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S165794.

American, European, and Chinese practice guidelines or consensuses of polycystic ovary syndrome: a comparative analysis.

Wang F, Pan J, Wu Y, Zhu Y, Hardiman P, Qu F J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2018; 19(5):354-363.

PMID: 29732746 PMC: 5962512. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1700074.

References

Himelein M, Thatcher S . Polycystic ovary syndrome and mental health: A review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2006; 61(11):723-32. DOI: 10.1097/01.ogx.0000243772.33357.84. View

Elsenbruch S, Benson S, Hahn S, Tan S, Mann K, Pleger K . Determinants of emotional distress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2006; 21(4):1092-9. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dei409. View

McCook J, Reame N, Thatcher S . Health-related quality of life issues in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2005; 34(1):12-20. DOI: 10.1177/0884217504272945. View

Lipton M, Sherr L, Elford J, Rustin M, Clayton W . Women living with facial hair: the psychological and behavioral burden. J Psychosom Res. 2006; 61(2):161-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.01.016. View

Jones G, Benes K, Clark T, Denham R, Holder M, Haynes T . The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ): a validation. Hum Reprod. 2004; 19(2):371-7. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh048. View

Rasgon N, Rao R, Hwang S, Altshuler L, Elman S, Zuckerbrow-Miller J . Depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and biochemical correlates. J Affect Disord. 2003; 74(3):299-304. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0327(02)00117-9. View

Elsenbruch S, Hahn S, Kowalsky D, Offner A, Schedlowski M, Mann K . Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003; 88(12):5801-7. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-030562. View

Goldbacher E, Matthews K . Are psychological characteristics related to risk of the metabolic syndrome? A review of the literature. Ann Behav Med. 2007; 34(3):240-52. DOI: 10.1007/BF02874549. View

Kitzinger C, Willmott J . 'The thief of womanhood': women's experience of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Soc Sci Med. 2002; 54(3):349-61. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(01)00034-x. View

10.

Himelein M, Thatcher S . Depression and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Health Psychol. 2006; 11(4):613-25. DOI: 10.1177/1359105306065021. View

11.

Podolska M, Bidzan M . Infertility as a psychological problem. Ginekol Pol. 2011; 82(1):44-9. View

12.

March W, Moore V, Willson K, Phillips D, Norman R, Davies M . The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample assessed under contrasting diagnostic criteria. Hum Reprod. 2009; 25(2):544-51. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dep399. View

13.

Weiner C, Primeau M, Ehrmann D . Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls. Psychosom Med. 2004; 66(3):356-62. DOI: 10.1097/01.psy.0000127871.46309.fe. View

14.

Van den Broeck U, Emery M, Wischmann T, Thorn P . Counselling in infertility: individual, couple and group interventions. Patient Educ Couns. 2010; 81(3):422-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2010.10.009. View

15.

van Balen F . Factors influencing the well-being of long-term infertile couples. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1994; 15(3):157-64. DOI: 10.3109/01674829409025641. View

16.

Snyder B . The lived experience of women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2006; 35(3):385-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00047.x. View

17.

Kraaij V, Garnefski N, Schroevers M . Coping, goal adjustment, and positive and negative affect in definitive infertility. J Health Psychol. 2009; 14(1):18-26. DOI: 10.1177/1359105308097939. View

18.

Schmid J, Kirchengast S, Vytiska-Binstorfer E, Huber J . Infertility caused by PCOS--health-related quality of life among Austrian and Moslem immigrant women in Austria. Hum Reprod. 2004; 19(10):2251-7. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh432. View

19.

Sonino N, Fava G, Mani E, Belluardo P, Boscaro M . Quality of life of hirsute women. Postgrad Med J. 1993; 69(809):186-9. PMC: 2399746. DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.69.809.186. View

20.

Kerchner A, Lester W, Stuart S, Dokras A . Risk of depression and other mental health disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a longitudinal study. Fertil Steril. 2008; 91(1):207-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.11.022. View