RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME AND ITS ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS WITH SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Abstract

The aim. To evaluate how symptoms associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affect the manifestation of depression symptoms in women. Methods. An anonymous survey study was conducted. All Lithuanian-speaking women > 18 years old, both healthy and diagnosed with PCOS, were invited to participate. 621 respondents participated in the study, including 229 women with PCOS and 392 healthy women. Results. The severity of depressive symptoms among all the women studied correlated most strongly with infertility (Cramer’s V = 0.17, p < 0.001), skin problems (V = 0.16, p < 0.001), and menstrual cycle disorders (V=0.14, p = 0.002). Healthy women significantly more often had PHQ-9 questionnaire scores characteristic of first-degree depression symptoms. Women in the study group, when analyzed separately within each group, significantly more often visited mental health specialists (76.9% vs. 45.9%, p < 0.001), more frequently reported sleep disturbances (78.6% vs. 75.3%, p = 0.001), fatigue (96.5% vs. 92.1%, p < 0.001), and more often expressed thoughts of death or self-harm (30.1% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.001). Harmful habits did not have a significant association with the severity of depressive symptoms among women with PCOS, but smoking in the control group was associated with more severe depressive symptoms (p = 0.001). Conclusions. The expression of depressive symptoms among all the women studied was directly correlated with infertility, skin problems, and menstrual cycle disorders. However, women with PCOS significantly more often visited mental health specialists.