Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Zolnoun, Denniz
• Park, Eliza M
• Moore, Charity G
• Liebert, Cara A
• Tu, Frank F
• As-Sanie, Sawson

Titel

Somatization and psychological distress among women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

Ist Teil von

• International journal of gynecology and obstetrics, 2008-10, Vol.103 (1), p.38-43

Ort / Verlag

Shannon: Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2008

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley Online Library Journals Frontfile Complete

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract Objective To investigate the distribution of psychological characteristics and pain reporting among women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS). Methods In this exploratory study, 109 women with VVS completed a battery of questionnaires to assess pain with intercourse and psychological characteristics (e.g. somatization, anxiety, distress). The distribution of these characteristics was compared, first with a conventional binary classification schema (primary and secondary) and subsequently with a 3-category schema (primary, latent primary, secondary). Results Severity of pain with intercourse did not differ among the subgroups using either classification schema. Women with primary VVS consistently showed higher levels of somatization, anxiety, and distress compared with those with secondary VVS. Using a 3-tiered classification system, we found no difference between latent primary diagnosis and the other 2 groups (primary and secondary). Conclusion This study highlights the critical need for research on subtype definition and the role of psychological factors in VVS.