Abstract Reproductive health is an integral part of women’s life, and fertility is considered a sign of good health. Conditions associated with reproductive health, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), exacerbate psychological distress. It involves hormonal imbalances and is supposedly the leading cause of infertility. Psychological distress often reported by such women includes depression, anxiety, stress, body image issues, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and poor quality of life. Psychotherapeutic intervention following the cognitive behavioral framework is beneficial in addressing these issues. The present study intends to explore the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in improving psychological flexibility and body esteem in women with PCOS. Individual sessions of ACT were implemented on two undergraduate female students, one overweight and another with normal Body Mass Index,suffering from PCOS since last 3-5 years, living in Kolkata, presenting with appearance-related concerns and emotional dysregulation. The questionnaires administered before and after intervention were the Acceptance and Action QuestionnaireII and Body Esteem Scale Revised. Five weekly sessions of therapy, each lasting for 45–50 min were held. The sessions emphasized on clarifying values and identifying hindrances in attaining the same. follow-up session was held after a month. After the intervention, an increase in psychological flexibility and improvement in body esteem, particularly in the areas of weight concern and physical condition, were observed for both participants.Interventions based on the third wave of behavior therapies, particularly ACT might help women with PCOS to accept their condition and motivate them to commit toward engaging in a healthier and meaningful life.
Mukherjee et al. (Sat,) studied this question.