Display options
Cite
Gnawali A, Patel V, Cuello-Ramírez A, et al. Why are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at Increased Risk of Depression? Exploring the Etiological Maze. Cureus. 2021;13(2):e13489doi: 10.7759/cureus.13489.
Gnawali, A., Patel, V., Cuello-Ramírez, A., Al Kaabi, A. S., Noor, A., Rashid, M. Y., Henin, S., & Mostafa, J. A. (2021). Why are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at Increased Risk of Depression? Exploring the Etiological Maze. Cureus, 13(2), e13489. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13489
Gnawali, Anupa, et al. "Why are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at Increased Risk of Depression? Exploring the Etiological Maze." Cureus vol. 13,2 (2021): e13489. doi: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13489
Gnawali A, Patel V, Cuello-Ramírez A, Al Kaabi AS, Noor A, Rashid MY, Henin S, Mostafa JA. Why are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at Increased Risk of Depression? Exploring the Etiological Maze. Cureus. 2021 Feb 22;13(2):e13489. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13489. PMID: 33777576; PMCID: PMC7990040.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Cureus. 2021 Feb 22;13(2):e13489. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13489.

Why are Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at Increased Risk of Depression? Exploring the Etiological Maze.

Cureus

Anupa Gnawali, Viral Patel, Alejandrina Cuello-Ramírez, Anoud S Al Kaabi, Asfa Noor, Mohammed Y Rashid, Shereen Henin, Jihan A Mostafa

Affiliations

  1. Family Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  2. Research, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  3. Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  4. Neonatology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  5. General Surgery, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  6. Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
  7. Psychiatry, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.

PMID: 33777576 PMCID: PMC7990040 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.13489

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and common multisystemic disorder. Women with PCOS have up to eight times higher prevalence of depression than control groups. This paper aims to explore the underlying risk factors for developing depression in this high-risk group. Studies indicate an interplay of multiple mechanisms that place women with PCOS at an increased risk for depression. The pathophysiology thought to play a role includes disturbances in the endocrine axes and changes to the metabolic pathway. The risk of depression is independently linked to insulin resistance and obesity in this population. However, rates of depression were still higher than control groups when accounting for these variables, demonstrating that they are not the only mechanism causing depression. The clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism and menstrual abnormalities may compound negative views and lower self-esteem and negatively impact mood. Many of these women also struggle with infertility, and due to the added external pressures like societal beliefs and culture, they may be further negatively impacted and worsen their depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depression in women with PCOS is high; thus, this paper highlights the essential understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play. This is to better aid in addressing the fundamental cause of depression in this high-risk group effectively.

Copyright © 2021, Gnawali et al.

Keywords: depression; hyperandrogenism; insulin resistance; menstrual irregularities; polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos)

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

  1. Hum Reprod. 2011 Dec;26(12):3339-45 - PubMed
  2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1961 Nov;21:1440-7 - PubMed
  3. J Psychosom Res. 2006 Aug;61(2):161-8 - PubMed
  4. Fertil Steril. 2013 Jul;100(1):200-7.e1 - PubMed
  5. Hum Reprod Update. 2006 Jul-Aug;12(4):351-61 - PubMed
  6. Hum Reprod. 2008 Sep;23(9):2064-71 - PubMed
  7. Metabolism. 2000 Oct;49(10):1255-60 - PubMed
  8. Diabetes Care. 2010 May;33(5):1128-33 - PubMed
  9. Hum Reprod. 2016 Aug;31(8):1788-98 - PubMed
  10. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017 Sep;87(3):217-230 - PubMed
  11. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;67(3):220-9 - PubMed
  12. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017 Sep 20;19(11):83 - PubMed
  13. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2006 May-Jun;35(3):385-92 - PubMed
  14. Semin Reprod Med. 2008 Jan;26(1):45-52 - PubMed
  15. BMC Med. 2010 Jun 30;8:41 - PubMed
  16. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Jun;34(5):727-35 - PubMed
  17. J Psychosom Res. 2013 Mar;74(3):244-7 - PubMed
  18. Psychosom Med. 2012 Jun;74(5):476-82 - PubMed
  19. Fertil Steril. 2019 Jan;111(1):147-156 - PubMed
  20. Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Dec;153(6):853-60 - PubMed
  21. Fertil Steril. 2000 Apr;73(4):812-6 - PubMed
  22. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;36(2):38-45 - PubMed
  23. Endocrine. 2006 Aug;30(1):27-33 - PubMed
  24. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008 Jan-Feb;30(1):32-9 - PubMed
  25. Turk J Med Sci. 2018 Jun 14;48(3):531-536 - PubMed
  26. Hum Reprod. 2017 May 1;32(5):1075-1091 - PubMed
  27. JAMA Dermatol. 2016 Jul 1;152(7):783-8 - PubMed
  28. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Aug 11;2:16057 - PubMed
  29. Med Hypotheses. 2002 Nov;59(5):537-51 - PubMed
  30. BMC Womens Health. 2018 Oct 11;18(1):164 - PubMed
  31. Fertil Steril. 2019 Jan;111(1):54-55 - PubMed
  32. Fertil Steril. 2018 Jul 1;110(1):27-34 - PubMed
  33. Diabetes Care. 1999 Jan;22(1):141-6 - PubMed
  34. Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Mar-Apr;18(2):146-70 - PubMed
  35. J Affect Disord. 2003 May;74(3):299-304 - PubMed
  36. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013 Aug 16;11:141 - PubMed
  37. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:107-13 - PubMed
  38. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2015 Jan;184:43-7 - PubMed
  39. Soc Sci Med. 2002 Feb;54(3):349-61 - PubMed
  40. J Int Med Res. 2008 Nov-Dec;36(6):1188-96 - PubMed
  41. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;67(6):598-607 - PubMed
  42. Gastroenterology. 2007 May;132(6):2169-80 - PubMed
  43. Chin Med J (Engl). 2017 5th Feb;130(3):262-266 - PubMed
  44. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Jun;20(2):245-60 - PubMed
  45. Fertil Steril. 2010 Jun;94(1):357-9 - PubMed
  46. Fertil Steril. 2018 Aug;110(3):364-379 - PubMed
  47. PLoS One. 2017 Nov 30;12(11):e0187448 - PubMed

Publication Types