Psychiatric diagnoses and sexual victimization in women with chronic pelvic pain

The authors evaluated 100 women scheduled for diagnostic laparoscopy (50 for chronic pain, 50 for tubal ligation or infertility evaluation) using structured psychiatric, family history, and sexual trauma interviews. Laparoscopy reports were blindly rated by a gynecologist. Compared with the nonpain group, the women with chronic pelvic pain had significantly higher current and lifetime rates of psychiatric disorders, as well as childhood and adult sexual victimization. They reported significantly higher mean numbers of somatization symptoms, but no significant differences in objective laparoscopic findings. Psychiatric disorders and sexual victimization are common in women with chronic pelvic pain and should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of these patients.