Depression, anxiety and perceived stress in women with and without PCOS: a community-based study

In the 2018 study involving 8,612 women, 478 with self-reported PCOS and 8,134 without, it was found that those with PCOS had significantly higher rates of depression (27.3% vs. 18.8%), anxiety (50% vs. 39.2%), and perceived stress (scores of 1.01 vs. 0.88). The study, which adjusted for BMI, infertility, and socio-demographic factors, suggested that stress might mediate the relationship between PCOS and psychological distress. The findings indicate that women with PCOS are more likely to experience psychological distress and that stress management should be considered an important component of their care. However, the study had limitations, including reliance on self-reported data and a specific age range of participants (28-33 years), which may affect the generalizability of the results. The study underscores the importance of addressing psychological distress in the treatment of PCOS.