Abstract
BackgroundIn Japan and Asia, few studies have been done of physical and sexual abuse. This study was aimed to determine whether a history of childhood physical abuse is associated with anxiety, depression and self-injurious behavior in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms.MethodsWe divided 564 consecutive new outpatients at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of Kyushu University Hospital into two groups: a physically abused group and a non-abused group. Psychological test scores and the prevalence of self-injurious behavior were compared between the two groups.ResultsA history of childhood physical abuse was reported by patients with depressive disorders(12.7%), anxiety disorders(16.7%), eating disorders (16.3%), pain disorders (10.8%), irritable bowel syndrome (12.5%), and functional dyspepsia(7.5%). In both the patients with depressive disorders and those with anxiety disorders, STAI-I (state anxiety) and STAI-II (trait anxiety) were higher in the abused group than in the non-abused group (p < 0.05).In the patients with depressive disorders, the abused group was younger than the non-abused group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of self-injurious behavior of the patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and pain disorders was higher in the abused groups than in the non-abused groups (p < 0.005).ConclusionA history of childhood physical abuse is associated with psychological distress such as anxiety, depression and self-injurious behavior in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms. It is important for physicians to consider the history of abuse in the primary care of these patients.
Highlights
In Japan and Asia, few studies have been done of physical and sexual abuse
A history of childhood physical abuse is associated with psychological distress such as anxiety, depression and self-injurious behavior in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms
In our research and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) patients, we have found a number of victims of childhood physical abuse
Summary
In Japan and Asia, few studies have been done of physical and sexual abuse. Few studies have been done of the prevalence of physical or sexual abuse history in Japan and Asia. 1,145 men and 1,481 women in the United States, Finkelhor et al reported the prevalence of child sexual abuse history to be 27% for women and 16% for men [1]. Leserman reported a high prevalence of sexual and physical abuse history among female outpatients referred to a gastroenterology clinic [3]. They found that 44% of the studied women reported some type of sexual and/or physical abuse history. In Japan and Asia, few studies have examined the health impact of physical and sexual abuse. In our research and treatment of FGID patients, we have found a number of victims of childhood physical abuse
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