The impact of hirsutism on the mental status of Indian women

Objective To determine mental status of the hirsute women using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]

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Methods Hirsutism was assessed quantitatively by Ferriman-Gallwey score [F-G score] and qualitatively by self-administered questionnaires of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]. Other parameters such as age, occupation, comorbidities, socio-economic status, marriage status, religion, educational status were assessed

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Results Mean HADS score of 100 hirsute patients was 12.66+/-6.11 which is abnormal. HADS was normal in 18 percent, 24 percent had borderline abnormal and in 58 percent it was abnormal. Mean anxiety score of HADS was 8.71+/-4.06, which was higher than the mean depression score which was 3.95+/-2.93, which was statistically significant [p=0.008]. HADS score was not affected by severity of hirsutism, age, occupation, socio-economic status, marriage status, presence of polycystic ovarian syndrome, religion and educational status

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Conclusion The presence of hirsutism had significant impact on the mental status of the patients which lead to anxiety and depression. There was a greater increase of anxiety in comparison with depression