TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2001//
TI  - Psychological characteristics of women presenting with breast pain
JO  - Journal of psychosomatic research
A1  - Colegrave, S.
A1  - Holcombe, C.
A1  - Salmon, P.
SP  - 303
EP  - 307
VL  - 50
IS  - 6
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Extensive evidence links unexplained physical symptoms in adults with childhood abuse. This study investigated a possible link between unexplained breast pain, recalled childhood abuse and emotional and somatic distress. METHODS: Consecutive female out-patients presenting with breast pain were categorised as treatment-resistant (n=20), newly diagnosed and requesting treatment (n=37), or newly diagnosed but reassured and not seeking treatment (n=32) and compared with pain-free patients with breast lumps (n=31). RESULTS: All breast pain groups were more anxious and depressed, somatised more and recalled a higher incidence of emotional abuse by comparison with breast lump patients. Logistic regression confirmed that emotional abuse and anxiety were independently associated with breast pain. CONCLUSION: Clinical management of patients who present breast pain should be sensitive to the evidence that pain is a marker of emotional abuse in some women and is associated with widespread somatic and emotional distress.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-3999
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -