Psychosomatic aspects of vulvodynia - Comparison with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To examine psychosomatic aspects of vulvodynia (VD) in compariso n with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-seven VD patients and 97 CPPS patients were examined wi th psychological tests (Freiburg Personality Inventory, Giessen Test) and c ompared with a control group of 34 healthy women. Sociodemographic data and psychoanalytic diagnoses were collected for 36 VD patients and 106 CPPS pa tients (inpatients). Descriptive statistics, chi(2) test and multivariant a nalyses were used. RESULTS: CPPS patients had significantly higher somatization than VD patien ts (P<.004). Both CPPS and VD patients, as inpatients, were significantly m ore depressive than the control group. In milder forms of VD, the patients (outpatients) exhibited no depression. The incidences of sexual abuse and s evere psychological disturbances were significantly higher in the CPPS grou p (P <.01). CONCLUSION: VD and CPPS are two, distinct psychosomatic gynecologic syndrom es and indicate psychosomatically oriented therapy.