Citation

Samelius L, Wijma B, Wingren G, Wijma K. Traumatology 2009; 15(1): 103-112.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, Publisher APA Journals)

DOI

10.1177/1534765608326177

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatization in abused women; 213 abused women were assessed for PTSD, somatization, health care contacts, and abuse-related variables. The main analyses in this exploratory study are based on the 91 respondents reporting either PTSD or somatization. We found no association between the occurrence of PTSD and somatization in abused women. Women with PTSD reported higher total magnitude of abuse and a larger number of perpetrators than women with somatization. Sexually abused women with PTSD more often described their experience as an act of abuse compared with sexually abused women with somatization. Results suggest that PTSD might not be a necessary mediator between abuse and somatization and that variables other than abuse magnitude are decisive for the development of somatization in abused women.