Dissociation, Somatization, Substance Abuse, and Coping in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain

Abstract

These results support the association between a positive abuse history and the high levels of dissociation, somatization, and substance abuse often noted in the chronic pelvic pain population. Findings suggest that such psychological variables are more likely to be associated with abuse than with the general medical condition. These psychological variables are conceptualized as maladaptive coping, which may be addressed as part of a biopsychosocial model of treatment for chronic pelvic pain patients.