title: Childhood physical abuse in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  We 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 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.
authors: Tachiarai Hospital, 842-1 Yamaguma, Chikuzen-machi, Asakura-gun, Fukuoka 838-0823, Japan. handam@fka.att.ne.jp
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Handa
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Nukina
authors: Masako
authors: M
authors: Hosoi
authors: Chiharu
authors: C
authors: Kubo