[Psychosomatic approach of vulvodynia]

Vulvodynia is considered as a "somatoform disorder", i.e. as a somatic complaint not fully explained by a general medical condition. As any other somatoform disorder, it may reveal a depression, associated or not with anxiety. These patients always apply first to general practitioners or gynecologists and not to psychiatrists. It is, therefore, very important that these physicians could perform the diagnosis of depression, when this mood disorder is present, either by themselves or relying on the help of psychiatrists, and implement an appropriate treatment for depression. Vulvodynia is often associated with two pathological conditions: hysterical personality or hypochondriasis. It is fundamental that the doctors recognize these conditions in order to avoid the relational pitfalls, which would hinder the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.