Psychiatric morbidity in gynecological outpatients - Judd - 2012 - Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
Abstract
Aim:
To assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety in women presenting
with gynecological symptoms, to determine how many women with these
disorders were receiving treatment for them, and to investigate risk
factors for these disorders.
Method:
Two hundred and sixty-four women seeking medical care from gynecology
clinics at a specialist women's hospital completed a self-report
questionnaire asking about sociodemographics, physical and mental
health, personality (neuroticism) and psychosocial stressors.
Results:
A total of 91 women met the diagnostic criteria for one or more Patient
Health Questionnaire (PHQ) diagnosis. Forty-six (17.4%) met criteria
for major depressive disorder (MDD), 15 (5.7%) for panic disorder (PD)
and 73 (27.7%) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Thirty-nine
(42.9%) of the 91 women met criteria for two or more disorders. An
additional 23 (8.7%) met DSM-IV-TR criteria for minor (sub-threshold)
depression. Fifty percent with MDD, 4% with minor depression, 53% with
PD and 22% with GAD reported they were receiving treatment. Psychosocial
stressors and the neuroticism score were risk factors for both anxiety
and depression.
Conclusions:
Anxiety and depression are common amongst women attending a gynecology
clinic. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of these disorders
and make specific enquiries about their emotional wellbeing.
