Development of mental disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women of reproductive age, causing alterations in the reproductive, metabolic, and psychological systems. Although its pathophysiology is not fully understood, it is possible to determine the symptoms through genetic, endocrine, and lifestyle factors. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the association between depression and anxiety in women with PCOS. To this end, a qualitative, descriptive methodological approach was adopted through a literature review in the PubMed, Embase, and VHL databases. The inclusion criteria were: clinical trial articles, randomized or non-randomized, cohort studies, case-control studies, and open access, published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, between 2018 and 2023 with topics associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, depression, and anxiety. The exclusion criteria were bibliographic and editorial reviews, as well as texts that were not available in full or free of charge. In this context, based on the bibliographic findings, polycystic ovary syndrome is a common disease among women of reproductive age characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation, and the presence of polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. Metabolic alterations cause a variety of PCOS symptoms, including chronic anovulation or amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism, and obesity. In this way, PCOS is related to body dissatisfaction, depression, anxiety, decreased sexual satisfaction, eating disorders, and lower health-related quality of life. In addition, the risk of depression and anxiety increases with prolonged exposure to hyperandrogenism. In addition, people with PCOS are four to seven times more likely to have moderate to severe depressive and anxiety symptoms. Therefore, women with PCOS experience significant social pressure, which maximizes the prevalence of mental disorders associated with the syndrome, such as anxiety and depression.