Ahmed Shoaib, Wahid Bakhsh Sajid, Shahid Rashid.
Psychiatric aspects of primary Infertility in females.
Pak Armed Forces Med J Jan ;54(1):37-41.

This study is designed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity in females with primary infertility and to identify risk factors for psychiatric morbidity. One hundred females having primary infertility, who visited various outpatient departments at MH Rawalpindi and CMH Kharian, have been screened using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) for the possible psychiatric morbidity. Another hundred females with one live issue have been taken as control and screened for psychiatric morbidity. They were ultimately evaluated by two psychiatrists on clinical psychiatric interview and final diagnosis made on ICD 10 diagnostic criteria. In 100 infertile women, psychiatric morbidity was detected in 76% of the cases, while 32% psychiatric morbidity were found in the control. Amongst those having the psychiatric illness, depression was the most common illness 46.03%. Other common diagnosed categories were somatization disorder 20.63%, conversion disorder 15.87% and generalized anxiety disorder 9.52%. obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was found in 4.76%, whereas panic disorder and phobic disorder were found in 1.58%. A positive correlation between depression and the duration of infertility was found. Anxiety and related disorders were found in earlier age group whereas depression was found in later age group. A significant proportion of women suffering from primary infertility have psychiatric morbidity. Early detection of these symptoms by screening instruments like General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) can enhance the early detection of psychiatric morbidity, formulate psychiatric interventions and possible reduction in morbidity and cost of the treatment. Efforts should be made to increase the awareness among the general population and to impart training in community health care workers to address the psychiatric issues in females who are treated for infertility.

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