depression

Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Associated with Mental Health Challenges?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has historically been considered a reproductive hormone issue. However, females with PCOS have elevated risks of metabolic and cardiovascular health issues. In fact, insulin resistance is an underlying cause of PCOS for the vast majority of females with the syndrome.

I’m currently reading Dr. Christopher Palmer’s book Brain Energy. Admittedly, I haven’t gotten too far into the book, but from hearing him on several podcast episodes, I know that his main theory is that metabolic issues are an underlying cause of most, if not all mental illness.

Given the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction among females with PCOS, if Dr. Palmer’s hypothesis is true, it is unsurprising that females with PCOS would also experience increased rates of things like depression and anxiety. This article explores some of the research on this association as well as some of the research on tools that can improve mental health indicators for PCOS.

The Effects of Meditation on Anxiety and Depression

This is another post in celebration of World Meditation Day, and it covers a study near and dear to my heart… because it’s my own study!

In fall 2020, serving as my department’s graduate coordinator, I was observing firsthand the impact that the pandemic was having on our students’ mental health. There are many studies that show meditation has positive impacts on mental health in both students and the general population. However, most of these studies either used time-intensive interventions where participants met regularly or were targeting health-related students (med students, nursing students, etc.). I knew that the last thing our students needed was another meeting on their calendar (and a Zoom meeting at that!), and I wasn’t sure if the effects found for health-focused students would carry over to our own students.

So I set out to find out!