Ricerc@Sapienza

Objective: DSM 5 collects in the category “Genito-Pelvic Pain/
Penetration disorder (GPPPD)” some clinical conditionscharacterized by different psycho-somatic profiles and symptoms.
There is also a lack of research that clarify such peculiarities.
Vulvodynia and Endometriosis are diseases associated with genital
sexual pain whose etiologies remain still unclear. The aim of
the present study was to explore the differences in psychological
functioning between vulvodynia and endometriosis participants.
Material and Method: 32 patients with genito-pelvic pain, 16
with vulvodynia (VG, mean age 31.75±6.92) and 16 with
endometriosis (EG, mean age 31.25±6.38), were recruited at the
Institute of Clinical Sexology and at the Gynecology-Obstetrics
& Urology department of “Sapienza” University in Rome. Participants
completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and the
Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).
Result: VG achieved significant worse scores than EG in the
following SCL-90-R domains: global severity index (t¼-2.42;
df¼26; p<.05 depression="" df="" p="" anxiety=""> (t¼-2.23; df¼25; p<.05 paranoid="" ideation="" df=""> p<.05 and="" psychoticism="" df="" p="" with="" vg=""> obtaining clinical scores in all these areas, compared to EG who
did not. Both groups got clinical scores in somatization, whereas
VG achieved clinical scores also in obsessive compulsive and
interpersonal sensitivity domains.
Conclusion: Results underline that there are important differences
in psychological profiles of patients complaining genito-pelvic pain.
Vulvodynia participants seem to be more impaired than Endometriosis
ones. Data could suggest that psychological factors may be
involved in the onset or in the maintenance of vulvodynia, more
than in others disease, such as Endometriosis. It is important to take
into account these differences in order to provide amore specific and
appropriate assessment and treatment to women with GPPPD.
Disclosure: Work supported by industry: no.