Childhood sexual trauma in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: a case control study

Abstract

Background: The impact of early lifetime trauma on symptomseverity and quality of life of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladderpain syndrome (IC/BPS) has not been fully elucidated. Wewanted to determine and compare the prevalence and impact ofchildhood traumatic events, with an emphasis on childhood sexualabuse, on patient symptoms, quality of life and other biopsychosocialparameters.Methods: Subjects (female patients with IC/BPS and controls withoutIC/BPS) completed psychosocial phenotyping questionnaires,including a demographics/history form, and validated questionnairesfocused on presenting symptoms (IC symptom indices, pain),psychosocial parameters (depression, anxiety, pain catastrophizing,sexual functioning, social support) and quality of life. Participantsalso completed the Childhood Traumatic Events Scale.Results: Questionnaires were completed by 207 IC/BPS patientsand 117 controls matched for age, partner status and education. Itwas found that before 17 years of age, the IC/BPS cases reportedhigher prevalence of “raped or molested” compared to controls(24.0% vs. 14.7%; p = 0.047). Within the IC/BPS group, casesreporting previous sexual abuse endorsed greater sensory pain,depression and poorer physical quality of life at the present timecompared to IC cases without a sexual abuse history. In the controlsonly, those reporting previous sexual abuse endorsed more depression,anxiety, stress, social maladjustment poorer mental qualityof life in the present time. When the analysis was corrected forpotential multiple comparison error, none of the findings remainedsignificant in either the IC/BPS or control groups.Interpretation: Childhood traumatic events, in particular sexualabuse and extreme illness, are reported as more common in IC/BPS patients than controls. Early trauma, such as the occurrenceof sexual abuse, is associated with some differences in patientadjustment (e.g., pain, quality of life, depression) but this impactappears to be, at most, very modest.