Citation

Read JP, Stern AL, Wolfe J, Ouimette PC. Women Health 1997; 25(3): 1-17.

Affiliation

University of Rhode Island, Department of Psychology, Kingston, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9273980

Abstract

The interactive relationship between psychological distress and physical health is a particularly salient one for women. Routine screening for abuse history and current psychological disturbance is essential in providing comprehensive patient care. The present study examines the utility of a brief screening measure in detecting psychological factors in female patients at a primary care facility. Sixty-nine percent of 108 women screened at a women's health clinic reported a history of trauma and almost half (49%) reported having been sexually harassed. Women presenting to treatment for gynecological problems were more likely to be victims of sexual assault and were more likely to report a history of childhood sexual abuse. In addition, women seeking specialized health care also reported increased rates of stress. Relationships among victimization histories, substance use, and eating disturbances were also found. These data suggest the importance of assessing psychological disturbances and trauma histories as part of a comprehensive medical evaluation.

Language: en