Exploring the impact of androgen levels on depression and anxiety in adolescent females: a clinical perspective

Abstract Objectives Depression and anxiety are rare disorders that can be seen in childhood. Anxiety disorders are more common. The underlying causes of these mental disorders are generally unknown. Changes in the body caused by hyperandrogenism may lead to mental disorders. In this study, we investigated the association of androgen excess with depression and anxiety in adolescent girls. Methods Adolescent girls with elevated androgen levels were evaluated using the DSC and SCARED scales and underwent a child psychiatric evaluation. Physical examination and the relationship between scale scores and anxiety and depression were investigated. Results Fifty-three girls aged 10–18 (mean 15.09 ± 1.26) with androgen elevation participated in the study. In our study, the frequency of panic disorder, separation anxiety, and eating disorders was shallow, but the frequency of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and depression was high (21 %, 29%, 23 %). None of our patients had school phobia, bipolar disorder, suicidality, obsessive-compulsive disorder, enuresis, or encopresis. No significant change was observed in scale scores with any androgen elevation. Conclusions In our study, we found that androgen elevation did not change the frequency of mental disorders in adolescent girls. Despite the large number of studies, it is still controversial whether hyperandrogenemia increases mental disorders due to conflicting results between studies.