Abstract
Purpose
Several studies on the quality of life in patients with endometriosis have been performed with conflicting results. This cross-section survey examines the influence of endometriosis on the psychological well-being and the quality of life and the incidence of anxiety and depression among these patients, recruited from a tertiary care center in Austria.
Methods
Three standardized questionnaires of 62 patients with endometriosis were evaluated: status of health questionnaire (SF-36), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-D), and endometriosis health profile (EHP-30). Quality of life status (EHP-30) was compared with published samples of the Oxford hospital and the Charite Berlin. Chi-square tests, independent sample t-tests, and one-way independent ANCOVA’s were used to compare SF- 36 and HADS- D scores to 61 healthy controls. Pearson product-moment-correlation coefficients were used to investigate correlations between symptoms of depression and anxiety in the patient sample.
Results
Moderate to severe anxiety symptoms were found in 29 %; depressive symptoms were present in 14.5 % of the patients. Both symptoms occurred in 12.9 %. We found significant better values in all subscales of the EHP compared to the Oxford and Berlin samples. The control sample showed significant better subjective general health (p < 0.001), vitality (p < 0.001), mental health (p < 0.001), and better emotional role functioning (p < 0.001). Participants age significantly influenced mental health and emotional role functioning.
Conclusions
The impact of endometriosis on life quality in our study was considerably less than in other studies but equivalent to other chronic medical conditions. It could be shown that endometriosis is influenced by biopsychosocial variables. However, the elevated presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms indicates the need of psychosomatic treatment of affective disorders to prevent manifestation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brandes I (2007) Lebensqualität von Endometriose-Patientinnen. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde 67(11):1227–1231
Hudelist G, Fritzer N, Thomas A, Niehues C, Oppelt P, Haas D, Tammaa A, Salzer H (2012) Diagnostic delay for endometriosis in Austria and Germany: causes and possible consequences. Hum Reprod 27:3412–3416
Leyendecker G, Bilgicyildirim A, Inacker M, Stalf T, Huppert P, Mall G, Böttcher B, Wildt L (2014) The pathophysiology of adenomyosis and endometriosis Further insights into the mechanisms of uterine auto-traumatisation An MRI study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. doi:10.1007/s00404-014-3437-8
Leyendecker G, Wildt L, Mall G (2009) The pathophysiology of endometriosis and adenomyosis: tissue injury and repair. Arch Gynecol Obstet 280(4):529–538
WHO (1997). Programme on mental health: WHOQOL, measuring quality of life, WHO/MSA/MNH/PSF/97.4, http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/68.pdf (15.02.2014)
Siedentopf F, Tariverdian N, Rucke M, Kentenich H, Arck PC (2008) Immune status, psychosocial distress and reduced quality of life in infertile patients with endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol 60(5):449–461
Nnoaham KE, Hummelshoj L, Webster P, D’Hooghe T, de Cicco NF, de Cicco NC, Jenkinson C, Kennedy SH, Zondervan KT (2011) Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries. Fertil Steril 96(2):366–373
De Graaff AA, Hooghe TMD, Dunselman GAJ, Dirksen CD, Hum-meldshoj L, WERF EndoeCost Consortium and Simoens S (2013) The significant effect of endometriosis on physical, mental and social wellbeing: results from an international cross-sectional survey. Hum Reprod 38(10):2677–2685
Sepulcri RDP, Amaral VFD (2009) Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and qual- ity of life in women with pelvic endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 142(1):53–56
Eriksen HLF, Gunnersen KF, Sørensen JA, Munk T, Nielsen T, Knudsen UB (2008) Psychological aspects of endometriosis: differences between patients with or without pain on four psychological variables. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 139(1):100–105
Schute LK (2011) Prävalenz von Depressionen und Angststörungen und ihre Einflussfaktoren bei Frauen mit Endometriose. Unveröff. Diss., Medizinische Fakultät Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin
Bullinger M (2000) Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität mit dem SF36-Health Survey. Bundesgesundheitsblatt-Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 43(3):190-197
Herrmann-Lingen C, Buss U, Snaith P (2005) HADS-D Hospital Anxiety and depression scale deutsche version: manual. Bern Hans Huber
Jones G, Jenkinson C, Kennedy S (2001) The endometriosis health profile user manual. Nuffield department of obstetrics and gynaecology and Health Services Research Unit University of Oxford
Schüßler G, Heuft G (2008) Anxiety and depresssion in patients with medical diseases. Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie 54(4):354–367
Deutskens E, de Ruyter K, Wetzels M, Oosterveld P (2004) Response rate and response quality of internet-based-surveys an experimental study. Mark Lett 15(1):21–36
Asch DA, Jedrziewski MK, Christakis NA (1997) Response rates to mail surveys published in medical journals. J Clin Epidemiol 50(10):1129–1136
Conflict of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friedl, F., Riedl, D., Fessler, S. et al. Impact of endometriosis on quality of life, anxiety, and depression: an Austrian perspective. Arch Gynecol Obstet 292, 1393–1399 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3789-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3789-8