PCOS and Mental Health

I want to talk about a disorder that is not a mental health diagnosis, but it does affect mental health.

About one in 10 women have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), so you probably know someone who has it. It’s a hormonal disorder that impacts on women’s bodies in various ways:

People with PCOS tend to have weight, skin, menstruation, and fertility problems. You can read more about those symptoms here.

Unfortunately, many women with the syndrome also suffer from depression and anxiety. One study found depression among 23 percent of PCOS cases, compared to the normal 7.5 percent. Fifteen percent had panic disorders, compared to the normal 5 percent. OCD, bipolar disorder, suicidality, and generalized anxiety disorder were also more prevalent in PCOS cases.

That’s why screening for and treating mental health disorders should be an important part of managing PCOS. If you have PCOS and suffer from depression, anxiety, or any other disorder, know it’s treatable. Therapy can help with your emotional well being. It can also be helpful in learning to manage unhealthy eating patterns, which lead to weight gain and potential worsening of all your PCOS symptoms. Medication can also help.

There is hope and help!

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.