Abstract
Chronic pelvic pain is a frequent gynecologic disorder; its etiology, however, is for the most part unknown. In many cases, no organic correlate of chronic pelvic pain is found, while the syndrome is often associated with somatization. In several studies, we have observed high prevalences of chronic stress and/or traumatic life events, particularly sexual and physical abuse, in women with idiopathic chronic pelvic pain (ICPP). Related to these stress experiences, we found specific alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in women with ICPP, as indicated by low basal and stimulated cortisol levels. Women with ICPP often express a somatic illness model and hardly accept psychological interventions. The psychobiological approach helps to increase the understanding of the complex pathophysiology of ICPP and provides a frame for effective cognitive-behavioral treatment concepts.
Translated title of the contribution | Behavioral medicine in women with chronic pelvic pain |
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Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 106-111 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Verhaltenstherapie |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1998 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health