Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in women with chronic pelvic pain attended at a private hospital in São Luís, Maranhão: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Women & health 2024-10, Vol.64 (9), p.704-712
• Main Authors: da Costa Brito, Antonio Igor, Nogueira Neto, João, Coelho Mendes, Ana Beatriz, Bottentuit Nogueira, Mayara, de Sousa Gomes, Lyvia Maria Rodrigues, da Cunha Leal, Plínio, Rey Moura, Ed Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Chronic pain; chronic pelvic pain; Cross-sectional studies; depression; Education; Higher education; Informed consent; Mental depression; Pain; Statistical analysis; Stress; Women
• ISSN: 0363-0242; 1541-0331; 1541-0331
• DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2024.2395480

The study aimed to evaluate the relation between depression, anxiety stress symptoms, duration and pain intensity in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). This study consisted of a sample of women diagnosed with CPP from April 2021 to August 2023, including women aged 18 years or older who agreed in writing to participate in the study with the Free Informed Consent Form, who could understand the study's objectives and participate. Women between 31 and 37 years old, married or in a stable relationship, with a higher education degree predominated. Were observed outside the normal range scale 58.8 percent of depression, 66.7 percent of anxiety and 59.8 percent of stress. The level of alteration most often observed in patients was extremely severe in 24 percent of with depression and 33.3 percent of anxiety, and the level was mild in 19.6 percent of stress symptoms. No statistical association was found between duration of pain and emotional states of anxiety, depression or stress. Regarding pain intensity levels, there was no significant association with the presence or absence of symptoms of depression outside the normal range or its levels. It's was significantly associated with the presence or absence of anxiety symptoms outside the normal range (p = .003) and with their levels (p = .005). Also significantly associated with the presence or absence of stress symptoms outside the normal range (p = .007), as was its levels (p = .023). The symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress occur frequently in women with CPP and that the intensity of pain experienced is significantly associated with the presence of stress and anxiety but not with depression.