Inositol treatment for psychological symptoms in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women

T. Cantelmi, E. Lambiase, VR. Unfer, R. Gambioli, V. Unfer

Institute for Interpersonal Cognitive Therapy, Rome, Italy. vunfer@gmail.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: PCOS women experience different discomfort as a consequence of the illness. During the years, several risk factors and treatments emerged. This review aims at underlining evidence on psychological symptoms in PCOS women and on the effectiveness of therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed literature searching through different databases. We used different keywords, including: PCOS, PCOS and depression, PCOS and anxiety, PCOS and psychological, PCOS depression and risk factors, PCOS depression therapies, depression and inositol.

RESULTS: Based on the collected evidence, PCOS women are more likely to develop psychological symptoms, like depression or anxiety disorders. Furthermore, several risk factors are associated with higher depression or worse psychological conditions. Particularly, the literature highlights BMI, hirsutism, insulin resistance, excess of androgens and lack of serum Vitamin D. Even though several pharmaceuticals find application in psychological symptoms, some of them can impair hormonal condition in PCOS women. Few molecules are able to improve psychological symptoms without impairing hormonal profiles. Among these, myo-inositol appears to be the most interesting, as it is also considered first-line therapy in PCOS women.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological symptoms affect PCOS women more than healthy subjects. Among the different treatments, inositol emerges as a safe approach, being the first-line therapy in PCOS for hormonal improvement and having putative effects also in psychiatrists.

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