Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Aug 31;53(4):955-966.
doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/93105. Epub 2019 Aug 31.

Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

[Article in English, Polish]
Daniel Rodriguez-Paris  1 , Agnieszka Remlinger-Molenda  2 , Rafał Kurzawa  3 , Aleksandra Głowińska  4 , Robert Spaczyński  5 , Filip Rybakowski  2 , Leszek Pawełczyk  5 , Beata Banaszewska  5
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

[Article in English, Polish]
Daniel Rodriguez-Paris et al. Psychiatr Pol. .
Free article

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting approximately 5-8% of females in this group. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, abnormal periods (rare periods or amenorrhea) and polycystic ovaries visualized through ultrasonography. The etiopathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome has not been elucidated in detail. There are numerous hypotheses on this subject which tend to complement one another. The most widely recognized hypothesis is that the development of PCOS is due to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, which subsequently lead to hyperandrogenism. On the basis of an as of yet relatively small number of studies, an increased prevalence of various psychiatric disorders can be observed in women with PCOS. These include: depression, generalized anxiety disorder, personality disorders, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and eating disorders. Bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders have also been reported in women with PCOS more often than in the general population. The higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with PCOS, especially depression and anxiety disorders, may be due to both hyperandrogenism and the resulting somatic symptoms. These symptoms can undoubtedly be stigmatizing for women and lower their quality of life. This article is intended to provide an overview of the literature regarding mental disorders associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and to present own research on depression and sexual dysfunction in this group.

Keywords: PCOS; mood disorders; other psychiatric disorders.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources