Temperament features, alexithymia, impulsiveness levels of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the temperament features, alexithymia and impulsivity levels of patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); which manifests itself with menstrual irregularity, chronic anovulation, hirsutism, infertility and hyperandrogenism. Method: The study included 105 female patients who applied to Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and diagnosed PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria. 100 healthy controls were also included in the study matched for the demographic data. All participants were evaluated using the sociodemographic data form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis Pisa Parisand San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) and Ferriman-Gallwey Scale (mFG). Results: The mean age of the patients was 23.94±4.64 and the control group was 24.54±6.77. There was no statistical difference between the average age, marital status and education level of the participants. There was no difference between the groups in terms of HADS anxiety and depression scores (p>0.05). The emotional recognition sub-dimension and total alexithymia levels were higher for the TAÖ-20 than the healthy controls (p values, <0.001 and 0.018, respectively). Attention-related impulsivity and impulsivity total scores for BIS-11 were statistically significantly higher in the patient group (p values, respectively, 0.007, 0.004). Average TEMPS-A scores and all of its subscales were statistically higher in the patient group compared to controls (p<0.05). Discussion: Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome were more impulsive and alexithymic in certain dimensions and consequently had one or more dominant temperament features. Based on these differences, in order to help the patients more and, it is recommended that patients be supported psychiatrically in order to recognize and treat possible psychiatric symptoms and diseases.