Table 3.

Overview of the assessment of depression in MRKH patients

Reference	subjects (response rate; age)	instruments	scores on depression between two groups	strengths	limitations
Heller-Boersma et al., 2009, Psychosomatics [3]	patient group: 66, mean age:27.9 ± 1.0 yrs., response rate: 20% (66/355); control group:31 healthy women, mean age: 27.8 ± 1.5 yrs.	The symptom checklist (SCL-90-R); The Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (RSE); The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32)	no significant difference	Well-matched comparison group; Widely used questionnaires;	cross-sectional design; small sample size; selection bias (Response rate: 20%)
				Adds to the limited knowledge of psychological functioning in MRKH patients.
Claudia Gatti et al., 2010, THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY [13]	patient group:40, mean age:27.8 ± 1.3 yrs., response rate: 93% (40/43); control group: 30 healthy women, mean age: 27.8 ± 1.4 yrs.	BDI (Beck Depression Index); RSES; FSFI; Cohen Test for Life Management Ability (CTLMA)	no significant difference	Well-matched comparison group; Adds to the limited knowledge	cross-sectional design; small sample size; selection bias
Liao et al., 2011, AJOG [14]	patient group: 56, mean age:21.7 (18–52 yrs), response rate:72% (56/87); control group: standardization population.	SF-12; HADS; FSFI; Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ)	no significant difference	Widely used questionnaires; Adds to the limited knowledge.	cross-sectional design; normative data are from a general population.
Katharina Leithner et al., 2015, PLOS ONE [15]	patient group:10, mean age:36.7 ± 11.1 yrs., response rate: 59% (10/17); control group: 20 healthy women, mean age:25.5 ± 4.21 yrs.	FSFI; PHQ; Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI); World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQoL-BREF)	no significant difference	Adds to the limited knowledge.	cross-sectional design; small sample size
P.T.M. Weijenborg, et al., 2019, Human Reproduction [16]	patient group: 54, mean age:39.2 ± 13.8 yrs. response rate: 85%(54/63); control group: 79 healthy women, mean age: 36.7 ± 11.1 yrs.	SCL-90; HADS; RSES; FSFI; Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS); Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS); Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ)	no significant difference	Well-matched comparison group; Widely used and comprehensive questionnaires;	cross-sectional design; selection bias; small sample size;
				Adds to the limited knowledge.