Psychological assessment of patients with premature ovarian failure

Abstract

Objective. The objective of the present work was to perform an overall psychological assessment of patients diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, with the aim of studying personality traits and assessing anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress among women suffering from this physical condition.

Methods. We surveyed 21 patients between 18 and 39 years old. We psychologically assessed the patients with the following techniques: semi-structured interview, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults, Millon Index of Personality Styles, Psychosocial Stress Severity Scale, Human Figure Drawing Test, Two Person Drawing Test, and Rorschach Inkblot Test. The Pearson moment correlation statistic was utilized to appreciate correlation between the variables. To compare the results obtained we used the χ² test, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Student's t test. Significance level was set at α = 0.05.

Results. We found that these patients did not show high levels of depression, but they did show high values of anxiety. Psychosocial stress was higher throughout the year before they lost their menstrual cycles, than during the year before the psychological evaluation. Regarding personality profiles, the following scales stood out from the rest: Actively Modifying, Self-Indulging, Internally Focused, Realistic/Sensing, Feeling-Guided, Dominant/Controlling and Dissatisfied/Complaining.

Keywords:

• Premature ovarian failure
• personality
• stress
• anxiety
• depression