Psychological morbidity in women referred for treatment of hirsutism

It is suggested that a proportion of women with hirsutism experiences psychological and social difficulties, and that factors other than their dermatological status play an important part in their psychological difficulties.

Abstract

Sixty-nine pre-menopausal hirsute women were studied to determine the prevalence of psychological morbidity, and to identify factors associated with psychiatric symptoms. Measures used included: GHQ and POMS to assess psychological morbidity; self-esteem; personality (EPQ); and social adjustment, amongst other. About a third of subjects were found to be GHQ cases, one third had never discussed their hirsutism before, and two thirds avoided some social situations. Psychological morbidity was associated with poor social adjustment, higher levels of neuroticism and introversion, and avoidance of some social situations, but not with the severity of hirsutism or testosterone levels. The results suggest that a proportion of women with hirsutism experiences psychological and social difficulties, and that factors other than their dermatological status play an important part in their psychological difficulties.