Background: Infertility is strongly linked to psychiatric disorders especially if infertility and PCOS are coincidentally present. Major depression is the commonest psychiatric disorder [15-54%], followed by anxiety [8-18%] in infertile women.
Aim of the work: This study aims to estimate the prevalence and to determine the predictors of Psychiatric disorders among the infertile women.
Patients and methods: Our study is a cross-sectional-controlled study, that included 100 infertile women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], and 100 fertile women as a control between June 2019 and September June 2022. Complete medical history, general and gynecological examinations, and routine laboratory investigations were done for each woman during the enrollment. The depression intensity was assessed by the BECK depression inventory-II [BDI-II]. In addition, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS-A] was used to assess anxiety.
Results: the age of women ranged between 21 and 38 years, with no significant difference between both groups. However, the body mass index [BMI] significantly increased in the study group [28.74±1.92 vs. 26.63±1.25 kg/m2]. The infertile duration in the study group ranged between 2 and 7 years [the mean ±SD was 3.37±1.36 years]. Clinically relevant anxiety was significantly increased in the study than the control group [45% vs 25%], and the HADS-A score significantly increased in the study than the control group. Similarly, moderate and severe depression were significantly increased in the study than the control group [30.0%, 11.0% vs 15.0% and 4.0% respectively], and BDI score significantly increased in the study than the control group. Anxiety was significantly associated with infertility duration, and fasting glucose levels [higher glucose levels were associated with relevant anxiety].
Conclusion: The current work revealed a significant increase in depression and anxiety among infertile women with PCOS. Each condition seems to increase the effects of psychiatric disorders associated with the other condition.