Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and chronic vulvar pain syndrome (CVPS): evaluation of psychosomatic aspects

J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1999 Sep;20(3):145-51. doi: 10.3109/01674829909075588.

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to examine the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and the chronic vulvar pain syndrome (CVPS) as two psychosomatic gynecological syndromes. Sociodemographic data were collected from 106 CPPS and 36 CVPS in-patients (under internal and external supervision). Sixty-eight CPPS and 24 CVPS patients were examined using psychological tests (Freiburg Personality Inventory (FBI) and Giessen Test (GT)) and compared with a control group of 34 healthy women. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, multi-variant analyses, and regression analyses were used for statistical evaluation. There was a significantly higher incidence of sexual abuse and severe psychological disturbances in the CPPS group (p < 0.03). Sexual abuse was found to be a significant predictor of the CPP syndrome. The CPPS and CVPS patients were significantly more depressed than the control group (p < 0.03). CPPS and CVPS are two distinct psychosomatic gynecological syndromes accompanied by different psychological disturbances.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Depression / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Pelvic Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pelvic Pain / etiology
  • Pelvic Pain / psychology*
  • Personality Inventory
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / etiology
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / psychology*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Vulvar Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Vulvar Diseases / etiology
  • Vulvar Diseases / psychology*