Affective temperament and emotional processing difficulties in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their potential impact on PCOS clinical presentation

Abstract

Objectives: To assess alexithymia and affective temperament in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compare these patients to a group of patients undergoing endocrinological evaluation without a diagnosis of PCOS (non-PCOS). Additionally, the study explored the relationship between affective temperament, alexithymia, body mass index (BMI), and the severity of hirsutism in the PCOS group. Material and methods: A total of 46 patients with PCOS and 28 non-PCOS patients were recruited for the study. All participants underwent endocrinological and gynecological diagnostics. Alexithymia was assessed using the TAS-20 questionnaire, while affective temperament was evaluated with the TEMPS-A questionnaire. Results: Both PCOS and non-PCOS patients were found to fall within the “intermediate alexithymic” range. Patients with PCOS exhibited more pronounced cyclothymic temperament (p = 0.019), and the difference in irritable temperament was close to statistical significance (p = 0.072). In a stepwise linear regression analysis, total alexithymia emerged as a statistically significant positive predictor of BMI in PCOS group (β = 0.368, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Patients with PCOS exhibit higher cyclothymic temperament compared to the non-PCOS group. Both groups show “intermediate alexithymia”, which could impact treatment adherence and mental health, highlighting the importance of psychological interventions for improving outcomes and quality of life.