High Risk of Psychological Disorders: Anxiety and Depression in Adolescent Girls with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Study objective: This study is aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological disorders among different racial/ethnic group of normal weight and overweight adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)from a state in southeastern US. Design, setting, and participants: The data of 157,459 adolescents were collected through “the Patient Cohort Explorer” system at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) from January 2013 to December 2019.Unidentified patients were searched with diagnosis code for PCOS, age, race/ethnicity, and associated diagnosis including weight gain, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral concerns. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of PCOS and psychological disorders. Results: A total of 712 adolescents with PCOS were diagnosed in clinics during the period of study. Collected data indicated that prevalence of PCOS in adolescents seen in clinics was less than 1% with no significant difference by race or ethnicity. Almost 45% of patients suffered from one or more psychological disorders. (Anxiety: 18%, Depression: 16%, ADHD: 9%). Conclusions: Results from this study provide the first evidence of prevalence of PCOS and psychological disorders in adolescents with PCOS in a southern state. Our findings of a high prevalence of psychological disorders suggest that early screening for mental health symptoms must be considered during primary care clinical assessment of adolescents with PCOS. Left undiagnosed and/or untreated, chronic anxiety and depression may exacerbate mental health issues in this vulnerable population.