Evidence for associations among somatoform dissociation, psychological dissociation and reported trauma in patients with chronic pelvic pain
Authors:
E. R. S. Nijenhuis a;
R. van Dyck b;
M. M. Ter Kuile c;
M. J. E. Mourits d;
Ph. Spinhoven ef;
O. van der Hart g
| Affiliations: | a Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam and Mental Health Care Drenthe, Assen, The Netherlands |
| b Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | |
| c Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands | |
| d Department of Gynecology, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands | |
| e Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands | |
| f Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands | |
| g Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
DOI:
10.3109/01674820309042806
Publication Frequency:
4 issues per year
Published in:
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Volume
24,
Issue
2
June
2003
, pages 87
- 98
Formats available:
PDF
(English)
View Article:
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Abstract
This study investigates somatoform as well as psychological dissociation, somatization and reported trauma among patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Women with CPP (n = 52) who were newly referred to a gynecology department, or whose pain had resisted treatment, completed standardized self-report questionnaires and received a structured interview for DSM-IV dissociative disorders. The prevalence of dissociative disorders in the sample was very low. As hypothesized, self-reported somatoform dissociation was positively correlated with self-reported psychological dissociation and features of DSM-IV dissociative disorders; women who reported more serious psychic trauma, in particular sexual and physical abuse, experienced more somatoform and psychological dissociation than women reporting less trauma, or no trauma at all; and the association of somatoform dissociation and reported trauma was stronger than the association of psychological dissociation and trauma. Physical abuse/life threat posed by a person predicted somatoform dissociation best. The results are consistent with findings among psychiatric patients, and, therefore, strengthen the thesis that somatoform dissociation, (features of) dissociative disorder, and reported trauma are strongly intercorrelated phenomena.
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| Keywords: somatoform dissociation; trauma; chronic pelvic pain; dissociative disorders |
| view references (42) : view citations |


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