Impact of a mindfulness stress management program on stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the impact of an 8-week mindfulness stress management program on depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life in reproductive-age women with PCOS.
Results Summary
The intervention group showed statistically significant reductions in stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and salivary cortisol levels, along with improved life satisfaction and quality of life, with no significant placebo effect.
Population
Reproductive-age women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (8-week mindfulness program).
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8-week mindfulness stress management program | decrease | stress | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | statistically significant reductions | #1 |
8-week mindfulness stress management program | decrease | depressive symptoms | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | statistically significant reductions | #2 |
8-week mindfulness stress management program | decrease | anxiety symptoms | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | statistically significant reductions | #3 |
8-week mindfulness stress management program | decrease | salivary cortisol concentrations | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | statistically significant reductions | #4 |
8-week mindfulness stress management program | increase | Life Satisfaction scores | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | increase | #5 |
8-week mindfulness stress management program | increase | Quality of Life scores | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | increase | #6 |
Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire | no change | outcome measures | reproductive age women with PCOS | - | no significant effect | #7 |
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with a significant psychological burden throughout the life course of affected women. Thus, use of mindful awareness may be beneficial as an adjunct to conventional medical management of women with PCOS. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted at the Evgenideion Hospital of the Athens University Medical School to explore the impact of an 8-week mindfulness stress management program on measures of depression, anxiety and stress as well as on the quality of life in reproductive age women with PCOS. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Twenty-three and 15 women with PCOS were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group, respectively. All participants were administered DASS21, PSS-14, PCOSQ, Daily Life and General Life Satisfaction Questionnaires and provided three-timed daily samples of salivary cortisol, before and after the intervention. Intervention group participants were provided with the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire at the day of enrolment, to check for possible placebo effect on the outcome. Post-intervention, between-group results revealed statistically significant reductions in stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as in salivary cortisol concentrations, along with an increase in Life Satisfaction and Quality of Life scores in the intervention group only. There was no significant "placebo" effect on the outcome measures. Mindfulness techniques seem promising in ameliorating stress, anxiety, depression and the quality of life in women with PCOS and could be used as an adjunct method to the conventional management of these women.