Impulsivity, depression, and suicide in female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility associated with multiple medical and psychiatric complications. The study compared suicide, impulsivity, and depression in females with PCOS to females with other causes of infertility. Sixty females with infertility were included in two groups. Group A included 30 females with PCOS and infertility, while group B included 30 females with infertility for other causes than PCOS. The assessment included infertility workup, medical history, hormonal profile, Beck depression inventory (BDI), Short Version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Group A had higher numbers of patients with depression (p-value = 0.04) and higher BDI (p-value = 0.001). Negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation-seeking were higher in PCOS patients (p-value = 0.001, 0.03, 0.04). A significant positive correlation was found between sensation-seeking, BDI scores (p = 0.01), and LH level (p = 0.03). It was concluded that patients with PCOS have more depression and impulsivity than patients with other causes of infertility. Suicide was not different in both groups.