Women's health providers: don't forget about polycystic ovary syndrome

Comments on an article by Poleshuck and Woods (see record 2014-16756-003). The recent article by Poleshuck and Woods covered several areas of women's health that are defined, preceded, and/or followed by adverse psychosocial functioning. In a well-written and otherwise thorough summary of several women's health issues that are pertinent to mental health professionals, they neglected to mention polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a very common disorder (8% to 17% prevalence; March et al., 2010) that is associated with several interrelated physiological and psychological disorders. The current author is submitting this comment because it is important that mental health professionals are familiar with the diagnostic criteria for PCOS, its impact on mental health functioning and on the development of several increasingly common chronic diseases, and how mental health professionals can play a role in reducing psychosocial disturbances and development of chronic disease among women with PCOS.