Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women Veterans

Abstract

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP), a common pain disorder, is associated with high levels ofpsychological distress and healthcare service utilization, as well as a complex and at times indeterminate etiology. A history of trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms commonly co-occur with chronic pain conditions and have negative implications for pain-related outcomes. This study used a latent variable analytic approach to investigate the relationships among PTSD and depressive symptoms and their influence on pain and quality of life in a cohort of patients with CPP. The sample was drawn from records of women veterans within the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. The DSM-5 model represented the best fit to the data. Hyperarousal and Negative Alterations in Mood and Cognition were significant predictors of lower Quality of Life, while Re-experiencing symptoms were a significant predictor of increased pain severity.