Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and psychological. This book combines cutting-edge psychological and social science research with compelling personal stories to provide a roadmap for researchers and mental health providers. PCOS can cause menstrual irregularities, infertility, insulin resistance, excess and male patterned body hair, and is strongly associated with depression and anxiety. PCOS affects everything from one's self-conception and identity, to social relationships, intimacy and sexuality, to physical and mental health. Yet the literature has been largely silent regarding the personal and psychosocial experiences of those with PCOS. Using clear and compelling language, the author promotes a wider understanding of PCOS, calls attention to areas of research need, offers insight to mental health providers whose clients suffer from PCOS, and aims to inspire more positive outcomes for individuals with PCOS.
Stacey L. Williams, PhD, is a social-health psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She directs the Social Issues and Relations Laboratory in which she and her students study stigma and health. She has published dozens of articles in this area and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. She teaches courses in topics related to diversity, gender and sexuality, and research methods and statistics. Currently she serves as the chair of the campus Institutional Review Board. Recent accomplishments include membership in the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) and awards for both her research and equity and inclusion work: ETSU College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Research Award, Hayward Outstanding Psychology Faculty Award, Notable Woman Award, and the Patricia E. Robertson Diversity Leadership Award. Prior to her professorship, she earned her PhD in psychology at Kent State University and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in social environment and health at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
Dedication Series Foreword Acknowledgements Preface: A Note to the Reader Introduction: Why We Need a Psychological Science of PCOS and What This Book Does Chapter 1: Breaking the Cultural Silence: An Overview of PCOS Chapter 2: PCOS Stigma: One Diagnosis but Multiple Stigmas Chapter 3: Gendered Embodiment of PCOS Chapter 4: Social Support and Close Relationships in PCOS Context Chapter 5: Psychological Risk and Growth in Individuals with PCOS Chapter 6: Health Risks and Inadequate PCOS Healthcare Resources Chapter 7: A PCOS Call to Action: Interventions, Advocacy, and Psychological Science References Appendix A Appendix B Index About the Author
