Women who have the most common endocrine condition — polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS — should get checked for mental health disorders. That’s because they’re more likely to have one, according to new research.
Researchers from the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute at Cardiff University in the U.K. did a retrospective study of 17,000 women who received a PCOS diagnosis, specifically looking at their mental health history. The study was presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in the U.K.
The disorder affects 5 to 10 percent of women around the world, according to the study authors. Symptoms include limited fertility, acne, irregular periods and excess facial and body hair. It’s unclear what causes the condition, though it could be due to a combination of disorders linked to too many male hormones and irregular ovulation, Dr. Ricardo Azziz told U.S. News in 2015. Azziz founded the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society.
For this study, researchers analyzed patients starting with their PCOS diagnosis and for at least six months after that, including routine follow-up appointments. They discovered women with PCOS had a higher chance of being diagnosed with a mental health condition like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder as opposed to those who didn’t have PCOS. What’s more: Children of these women saw a greater risk of having ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
This is why researchers are suggesting the mental health screenings, though they cautioned work on this issue is far from over.
“Further research is needed to confirm the neurodevelopmental effects of PCOS, and to address whether all or some types of patients with PCOS are exposed to mental health risks,” study author Dr. Aled Rees said in a statement.
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Study: If You Have PCOS, Get Tested for Mental Health Conditions originally appeared on usnews.com
