Design: Case-control study

Setting: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a quaternary care urban hospital

Patients or Participants: Beginning in October 2019, women aged 18-60 who were scheduled for gynecological surgery in the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center were recruited for participation in the Biological and Epidemiological Markers of Endometriosis (BEME) study. The first 399 patients were assessed for this abstract.

Interventions: Patients scheduled for surgery are asked to complete an adapted questionnaire following consent to participate in the research study.

Measurements and Main Results: Patient were divided into the following groups:

(A) confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis

(B) a clinical suspicion for endometriosis without pathology confirmation during surgery

(C) controls undergoing surgery

Analysis of the first 399 patients found that groups A and B were not statistically different in their rates of anxiety (40% vs 39%, p=0.94) and depression (30% vs 27%, p=0.66) on chart review, and anxiety (52% vs 65%, p=0.20) in the questionnaire. Groups A and B both significantly differed from group C in all these measures, with rates of anxiety and depression approximately double those of group C on chart review specifically. Based on the questionnaire, group B was found to have a significantly higher prevalence of depression than either groups A or C.

Conclusion: Findings imply that women with clinical symptoms of endometriosis may benefit from similar interventions as women with surgically confirmed endometriosis and may experience depression at higher rates due to their unconfirmed status. The results support holistic care incorporating mental health care and other psychological support for women with endometriosis as well as those experiencing symptoms of endometriosis with no specific diagnosis.