Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life in women with pelvic endometriosis

Objective: To assess depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life in women with pelvic endometriosis. Study design: A prospective study of 104 women diagnosed with pelvic endometriosis. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were used to evaluate depressive symptoms; the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) to evaluate anxiety symptoms; and the short (26-item) version of the World Health Organization Quality Of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) to evaluate quality of life. Results: Of the patients evaluated, 86.5% presented depressive symptoms (mild in 22.1%, moderate in 31.7%, and severe in 32.7%) and 87.5% presented anxiety (minor in 24% and major in 63.5%). Quality of life was found to be substandard. Age correlated positively with depressive symptoms, as determined using the BDI (P = 0.013) and HAM-D (P = 0.037). There was a positive correlation between current pain intensity and anxiety symptoms, as assessed using the STAI (state, P = 0.009; trait, P = 0.048) and HAM-A (P = 0.0001). The complaints related to physical limitations increased in parallel with the intensity of pain (P = 0.017). There was an inverse correlation between duration of treatment and quality of life (P = 0.017). There was no correlation between psychiatric symptoms and endometriosis stage. Conclusions: A rational approach to endometriosis should include an evaluation of the emotional profile and quality of life. That approach would certainly reduce the functional damage caused by the endometriosis. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.