Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Based on a still relatively small number of studies, women diagnosed with PCOS are found to have an elevated prevalence of various mental health disorders that affect mood and psychological problems. Purpose: The aim of this diploma work is to review the literature and present how PCOS is related to women's mental health, focusing on the psychological problems faced by women with PCOS, which mental disorders are most common in women with PCOS, and the role of the nurse in their treatment. Methods: A descriptive method of work was used in this thesis. We made a review of domestic and foreign literature on the relationship between PCOS and women's mental health. The literature search was limited on the period between April 2022 and July 2022 in the following databases: PubMED, Google Scholar, CINAHL. We used the following keywords in English and Slovenian: PCOS AND mental health/PCOS IN duševno zdravje, PCOS AND psychiatric disorders/PCOS IN duševne motnje, PCOS AND nursing/PCOS IN zdravstvena nega. The articles included in the literature review were published between 2010 and 2022. Results: We analysed 27 articles. The results show us that PCOS puts women at a greater risk of poor mental health. The most common mental disorders they suffer from are anxiety and depression, sleep problems, autism, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The role of nurses in treatment of women with PCOS is very important, because they can make a significant contribution to improving women's health. Discussion and conclusion: PCOS has an impact on the occurrence of mental disorders in women and their presence is associated with the symptomatology of the syndrome. Early identification of the potential mental disorders is essential to improve treatment outcomes. Currently, relevant literature is relatively rare, with the exception of literature on PCOS and depression and anxiety. Therefore, there is a huge need for new studies, extensively investigating the prevalence of all mental problems in women with PCOS.
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