USE OF A SCREENING INSTRUMENT IN WOMENS HEALTH-CARE - DETECTING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG VICTIMIZATION HISTORY, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, AND MEDICAL COMPLAINTS

The interactive relationship between psychological distress and physic al health is a particularly salient one for women. Routine screening f or abuse history and current psychological disturbance is essential in providing comprehensive patient care. The present study examines the utility of a brief screening measure in detecting psychological factor s in female patients at a primary care facility. Sixty-nine percent of 108 women screened at a women's health clinic reported a history of t rauma and almost half (49%) reported having been sexually harassed. Wo men presenting to treatment for gynecological problems were more likel y to be victims of sexual assault and were more likely to report a his tory of childhood sexual abuse. In addition, women seeking specialized health care also reported increased rates of stress. Relationships am ong victimization histories, substance use, and eating disturbances we re also found. These data suggest the importance of assessing psycholo gical disturbances and trauma histories as part of a comprehensive med ical evaluation.