Can Psychosocial Intervention Suppress Testosterone and Triglycerides Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? A Feasibility Trial

Abstract

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suffer significant psychological distress, which may activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and further affect their physiological state. They often experience elevated levels of testosterone and triglycerides. Considering reports of psychological distress among women with PCOS, this study aimed to develop a psychosocial intervention to improve their emotional and physical health, particularly in Chinese society. This pilot study employed the Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (I-BMS) intervention model for women with PCOS in China. After a 2 h health information session, 18 participants were randomly assigned to the I-BMS group (9) or the control group (9). The intervention group received 6 weekly, 3 h I-BMS sessions. Pre- and post-blood tests and psychosocial questionnaires were collected from all participants. Retention to treatment was high with 79.6% treatment adherence gained and an overall average of five sessions completed. Compared with the control group, depression and anxiety symptoms reduced significantly for those in the intervention group (d = −1.24, p < 0.05 and d = –1.33, p < 0.01), their health-related quality of life improved significantly (d = 1.02, p < 0.01) both at post-intervention and 3 month follow-up, and their testosterone and triglycerides levels reduced significantly (d = −0.97, p < 0.001 and d = –0.41, p < 0.05) after joining the intervention. The I-BMS model is feasible and appears promising in improving psychological health, and reducing testosterone and triglyceride levels, in women with PCOS in China.Clinical Trial Registration:www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR1900027606.

The role of meditation and mindfulness in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a scoping review

“…Among the 14 trials, nine trials were RCTs (12 citations) ( 34 – 45 ), four were single-arm trials ( 46 – 49 ) and one was a quasi-experimental trial ( 50 ). The distribution of trials across geographical locations included six trials (9 citations) conducted in India ( 34 – 37 , 39 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 49 ), four in the USA ( 40 , 42 , 45 , 48 ), and one each in China ( 41 ), Iran ( 50 ), Greece ( 38 ) and Slovenia ( 43 ). Refer to Table 1 for a summary of available evidence.…”

Causal relationships between blood lipids and major psychiatric disorders: Univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization analysis

“…A 2012 study [ 9 ] reported that higher HDL-C and lower LDL-C have a positive regulatory effect on depression and anxiety. In a 2021 study [ 5 ], the authors found that intervention in triglyceride level can effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms. A recently published animal experimental study also reported that eight weeks of an increased-fat diet effectively caused metabolic disorders, like obesity and hyperlipidemia, resulting in anxiety-like behavior in mice [ 42 ].…”

“…There have been considerable efforts to explore biological biomarkers related to and/or causing psychiatric disorders, with blood lipid being a potential etiological variable that has been quite extensively investigated. For example, previous studies indicated that high triglycerides (TG) quantity was connected to a high risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) [ 4 ], anxiety disorder [ 5 ], posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [ 6 ], Alzheimer’s disease [ 7 ] and Schizophrenia [ 8 ]. However, other studies failed to prove such relationships [ 4 , 9 – 11 ].…”

Women's experience of polycystic ovary syndrome management: A systematic review and meta‐synthesis

“…[1][2][3] Depending on the characteristics of populations in different regions and research definitions, the prevalence of PCOS varies from 8% to 13%. 4 PCOS not only affects women's reproductive health (infertility), while increasing the risk of long-term complications (diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mood and eating disorders), [5][6][7][8][9][10] but also affects the health of their offspring. [11][12][13] At present, there is no effective cure for PCOS, and early and long-term management of the condition is needed to effectively reduce the impact of PCOS on both patients and their offspring.…”

“…Depending on the characteristics of populations in different regions and research definitions, the prevalence of PCOS varies from 8% to 13% 4 . PCOS not only affects women's reproductive health (infertility), while increasing the risk of long‐term complications (diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mood and eating disorders), 5–10 but also affects the health of their offspring 11–13 …”