Risk of depression and other mental health disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a longitudinal study

Objective To determine the conversion risk and predictors for depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Design Prospective longitudinal study. Setting University practice. Patient(s) Subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome who had participated in a previous study. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire was used to diagnose major depressive disorder and other depressive syndromes, anxiety syndromes, and binge eating disorder. Subjects completed a questionnaire on knowledge about polycystic ovary syndrome and treatment satisfaction. Result(s) A total of 60 of 103 subjects responded to the second survey. Mean time between the two surveys was 22 months (range 12–26 months). The overall prevalence of depression was 40% (24/60). Of these, 10 women screened positive for major depressive disorder or other depressive syndromes and 14 were receiving antidepressant medications. There were 11 new cases identified in the second survey (19% conversion). Total subjects with mood disorders in this study were 34/60 (56.6%), including 11.6% with anxiety syndromes and 23.3% with binge eating disorder. Difficulties with menstrual function, fertility, and body image (weight, hirsutism, acne) were not significantly different in women with and without depression. Conclusion(s) There is a significant risk for mood disorders (defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV ) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. This finding together with a high conversion risk for depression over a 1- to 2-year period underscores the importance of routine screening and aggressive treatment of mental health disorders in this population.