Context: Little is known about how lifestyle changes can affect well-being in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective: To study the effects of lifestyle intervention on psychological well-being, and the impact of well-being and personality traits on successful weight loss.

Design: A four-month Randomized Controlled Trial with a 12-months follow-up.

Setting: University Hospital.

Patients: Sixty-eight women with PCOS, aged 18 to 40 years and BMI ≥ 27 kg/m².

Interventions: Participants were randomized (1:1) into a behavioral modification program (intervention) or minimal intervention (control).

Main Outcome Measures: The Psychological Well Being Index (PGWBI) and the Swedish Universities Scales of personality (SSP). 

Results: At baseline, 60% had a global PGWBI corresponding to severe distress and 40% to moderate distress. There was no significant change in mean global PGWBI at 4 months within or between groups. However, at four months, the intervention group improved the score for anxiety (p=.035), general health (p=.012) and depressed mood (p=.033). Anxiety and general health tended to differ between groups (p=.06 respectively). In the whole population, women achieving ≥5% weight loss at 12 months (n=18) were less anxious at baseline compared to those who had not (p=.004). Personality trait-analysis showed that the weight-loss group had higher social desirability (p=.033) and lower embitterment (p=.023).   

Conclusions: Psychological well-being is severely impacted in overweight women with PCOS. Behavioral modification can positively impact dimensions of well-being, although not significant compared to control treatment. Personality factors could contribute to the understanding of successful weight loss.