Profile on personality types and cortisol in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Objective To understand the profile of personality types and cortisol in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in Infertility Polyclinic of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital and Immunoendocrinology Intergrated Makmal, Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia (FKUI). Polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed based on Rotterdam consensus 2003. Blood samples were taken to examine cortisol and other hormones level. Personality profile was assessed using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results We divided 36 cases of polycystic ovarian syndrome into 3 types of personality, i.e.: normal personality in 5 (14%) cases, neurotically inclined personality in 23 (64%) cases, and in psychotically inclined personality in 8 (22%) cases. Cortisol levels in the groups of neurotically inclined personality (10.7 ± 10.86 μg/dL) and psychotically inclined personality (10.2 ± 2.18 μg/dL) were higher than those in the group of normal personality (8.4 ± 1.05 μg/dL) either in all cases or when they were separated from the group with positive insulin resistance. Conclusion There was a weak, positive relationship between personality type and cortisol in polycystic ovarian syndrome, and the cortisol level was found to be higher in neurotically inclined and psychotically inclined personalities than in normal personalities with PCOS.