Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with a prevalence estimated at 4-20%. Among the conditions often co-occurring with PCOS are depressive and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in women with PCOS. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Directory of Open Access Journals databases for studies published before May 2025. The analysis was conducted on a group of 5857 women (study group: 3610; control group: 2247) obtained from 35 studies, which met the inclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in PCOS patients and the controls, according to the BDI, HADS-D, Mini-NPI and PHQ assessment tool, was 42.11% (95% CI: 32.6-52.2) vs. 13.62% (95% CI: 8.4-21.5; p < 0.001); 28.90% (95% CI: 20.7-38.8) vs. 15.80% (95% CI: 11.3-21.7; p = 0.010); 59.10% (95% CI: 30.9-82.4) vs. 65.90% (95% CI: 24.2-92.1; p = 0.792); and 26.50% (95% CI: 8.0-59.9) vs. 9.10% (95% CI: 1.8-35.1; p = 0.255). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the PCOS group and the control group, according to the HADS-A assessment tool, was 48.25% (95% CI: 36.1-60.6) vs. 31.40% (95% CI: 18.8-47.4; p = 0.098), respectively. Conclusions: The study confirms the higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in women with PCOS compared to the general population. These findings indicate the necessity of conducting psychiatric examinations and providing support for women with PCOS.