Somatic and psychosocial determinants of symptom severity and quality of life in male and female patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Katharina Piontek, Gesche Ketels, Rebecca Albrecht, Ulrike Schnurr, Christoph Dybowski, Christian Brünahl, Christian A Brünahl, Björn Riegel, Bernd Löwe
Journal of Psychosomatic Research · 2019 · vol. 120 , pp. 1–7 · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.02.010 · PMID:30929698 · W2916532285
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This study investigated somatic and psychosocial factors influencing symptom severity and quality of life in male and female patients diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

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Abstract

AIMS: To investigate the combined impact of somatic and psychosocial factors on symptom severity and physical and mental quality of life (QoL) in male and female patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). METHODS: We examined 234 patients aged 18 to 84 years attending an interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for patients with CPPS in Hamburg, Germany. Using self-reports, we assessed CPPS symptom severity (NIH-CPSI), with the female counterpart of each male anatomical site used in the questionnaire for women; physical and mental QoL (SF-12) as well as symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7); pain catastrophizing cognitions (PCS); social support (F-SozU) and medication intake. The presence of trigger and tender points was assessed in a physiotherapy examination. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was calculated to analyze the contribution of somatic and psychosocial variables on CPPS symptom severity. Analyses were repeated with physical and mental QoL as outcomes. RESULTS: In the overall model, the intake of pain medication (B = 3.78, SE = 1.25, p = .006), the presence of depressive symptoms (B = 0.40, SE = 0.15, p = .01) and pain catastrophizing (B = 0.18, SE = 0.05, p = .001) significantly predicted CPPS symptom severity. Corresponding analyses revealed a differential pattern of factors predicting physical and mental QoL, whereas higher levels of depressive symptoms were consistently associated with diminished mental (B = -0.63; p < .001) and physical QoL (B = -0.85; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Present results emphasize the importance of psychosocial factors, in particular of depression, in CPPS symptom severity and both physical and mental QoL and give support to an integrated treatment concept encompassing both psychological support and somatic aspects of the disease.

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Condition tags

chronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Chronic Pain Pelvic Pain Quality of Life Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Ambulatory Care Facilities Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Female Humans Male Middle Aged Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Quality of Life Regression Analysis Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult

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