Psychological characteristics of women presenting with breast pain.
OBJECTIVE
Extensive evidence links unexplained physical symptoms in adults with childhood abuse. This study investigated a possible link between unexplained breast pain, recalled childhood abuse and emotional and somatic distress.


METHODS
Consecutive female out-patients presenting with breast pain were categorised as treatment-resistant (n=20), newly diagnosed and requesting treatment (n=37), or newly diagnosed but reassured and not seeking treatment (n=32) and compared with pain-free patients with breast lumps (n=31).


RESULTS
All breast pain groups were more anxious and depressed, somatised more and recalled a higher incidence of emotional abuse by comparison with breast lump patients. Logistic regression confirmed that emotional abuse and anxiety were independently associated with breast pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical management of patients who present breast pain should be sensitive to the evidence that pain is a marker of emotional abuse in some women and is associated with widespread somatic and emotional distress.
Colegrave
S
S
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK.
Holcombe
C
C
Salmon
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology