Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Personality and Temperamental Characteristics

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynaecological/endocrine disorder that affects 5%-10% of women of reproductive age. Its association with psychiatric conditions is well known. This study aimed to evaluate personality, temperamental, and stress-related characteristics among PCOS patients by comparing them with a control group. We found that PCOS patients presented more pronounced features of type D personality and had higher NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO FFI) scores on neuroticism and lower NEO FFI scores on openness to experience and conscientiousness. On the Polish version of the Emotionality Activity Sociability Temperament Survey (EAS-D), PCOS patients reported higher emotionality-fear and lower activity than controls. The PCOS group also had higher scores on state anxiety and trait anxiety, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Distressed Personality Scale (DS-14) questionnaires. These findings underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the care of PCOS patients.