Depressive symptomsin womenwith chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the presence of depressive symptoms in women with chronic pelvic pain. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with women aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain, with no pregnancy history in the previous year, and with no cancer history The sample was established by calculating the representative sample, estimated as 50 women. All women were undergoing treatment at a gynecology outpatient clinic, referred by the primary health care network of the Brazilian national health system. Data collection was performed from October2009 to May 2010. The women's sociodemographic, economic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. The depressive symptoms were investigated using Beck's Depression Inventory. Statistical analysis was performed using position measures (mean, median), dispersion (standard deviation) and the χ2 test. Values of p