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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≤ .05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The participants' mean age was 41.6±9.4 years. The following features
predominated: secondary education level; pardo (brown) skin color; Catholic
religion; and living with a steady partner. Most (98%) were economically active
and worked with general domestic services. Regarding the participants' subjective
perception of pain, 52% reported experiencing intense pain, while 48% reported
experiencing moderate pain. Most women (52%) had been living with pain for five
years or less, and 30%, for over 11 years. The mean BDI score was 17.4 (±9.4). It
was observed that 58% of the women presented mild, moderate and severe depressive
symptoms according to the BDI. The most frequent depressive symptoms were
fatigability, loss of libido, irritability, difficulty to work, somatic
preoccupations, crying, dissatisfaction, sadness, and insomnia.

CONCLUSION:

Depressive symptoms were frequent among these women suffering with chronic pelvic
pain.