Psychoneuroendocrine aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

It has been suggested that the psychological aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be involved in its pathogenesis. In order to investigate the possible role of personality factors in the origin of PCOS, 21 patients complaining of the syndrome were enrolled in the study. Beside their clinical and hormonal parameters, the psychological profiles of the patients were evaluated by administration of Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) and State-Trait anxiety inventory (STAI) psychometric tests. Patients with PCOS showed significantly higher depression and anxiety scores than controls and 52.4% of them scored above the upper limit of the normal D scale (depression) of MMPI. Probably because of psychological background, women with PCOS showed different psychometric assessments, allowing the identification of two subgroups of patients, those with and those without increased levels of depression and anxiety. No correlation was found between psychological disturbances, on one side, and clinical and hormonal parameters, on the other. Even if the influence of the clinical features on the psychological configuration of PCOS patients cannot be excluded, we propose the hypothesis that an impairment of the central neurotransmitters, induced by a negative psychological vicious circle, could be involved, at least in some patients, in the pathogenesis of the syndrome.