This article presents a hypothesis developed from clinical practice for understanding the possible link between chronic pain and childhood abuse that has recently emerged in the literature. The model enables the treating psychotherapist to overcome common initial resistance to psychotherapy while helping the patients achieve better symptomatic control. A case report is presented that elaborates on this hypothesis and future research directions are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Beitchman, J. H. , Zucker, K. J., Hood, J. E., da Costa, G. A., Akman, D., & Cassavia, E. (1992). A review of the long-term effects of child sexual abuse.Child Abuse & Neglect, 16(1), 101-118.
2.
Briere, J. , & Runtz, M. (1987). Post sexual abuse trauma: Data and implications for clinical practice.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 367-379.
3.
Brown, A. , & Finkelhor, D. (1986). The impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the research.Psychological Bulletin, 99, 66-77.
4.
Chu, J. A. , & Dill, D. L. (1990). Dissociative symptoms in relation to childhood physical and sexual abuse.American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 887-892.
5.
Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. (1992). Violence against women: Relevance for medical practitioners.Journal of the American Medical Association, 267(23), 3184-3189.
6.
Cunningham, J. , Pearce, T., & Pearce, P. (1988). Childhood sexual abuse and medical complaints in adult women.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 3, 131-144.
7.
Edwall, G. E. , Hoffman, N. G., & Harrison, P. A. (1989). Psychological correlates of sexual abuse in adolescent girls in chemical dependency treatment.Adolescence, 24(94), 279-288.
8.
Finkelhor, D. (1979). Sexually victimized children.New York: Free Press.
9.
Finkelhor, D. (1986). A sourcebook on child sexual abuse.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
10.
Krystal, H. (1988). Integration and self-healing: Affect, trauma, alexithymia.Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.
11.
Lechner, M. E. , Vogel, M. E., Garcia-Shealton, L. M., Leichter, J. L., & Steibel, K. R. (1993). Self-reported medical problems of adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse.Journal of Family Practice, 36, 633-638.
12.
Leserman, J. , Toomey, T. C., & Drossman, D. A. (1995). Medical consequences of sexual and physical abuse in women.Humane Medicine, 11(1), 23-28.
13.
Lipowski, Z. J. (1988). Somatization: The concept and its application.American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 1358-1368.
14.
Mayou, R. (1993). Somatization.Psychotherapy Psychosomatics, 59, 69-83.
15.
Rapkin, A. S. , Kames, L. D., Darke, L. L., Stampler, F. M., & Naliboff, B. D. (1990). History of physical and sexual abuse in women with chronic pelvic pain.Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 76, 92-96.
16.
Reiter, R. C. , & Gambone, J. C. (1989). Demographic and historical variables in women with idiopathic chronic pelvic pain.Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 75, 423-432.
17.
Reiter, R. C. , Shakerin, L. R., Gambone, J. C., & Milburn, A. K. (1991). Correlation between sexual abuse and somatization in women with somatic and non-somatic chronic pelvic pain.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 165(1), 104-109.
18.
Russell, D.E.H. (1986). The secret trauma: Incest in the lives of girls and women.New York: Basic Books.
19.
Scarinci, I. C. , McDonald-Haile, J., Bradley, L. A., & Richter, J. E. (1994). Altered pain perception and psychosocial features among women with gastrointestinal disorders and history of abuse: A preliminary model.American Journal of Medicine, 97, 108-118.
20.
Schoferman, J. , Anderson, D., Hines, R., Smith, G., & Keane, G. (1993). Childhood psychological trauma and chronic refractory low back pain.Clinical Journal of Pain, 9(4), 260-265.
21.
Toomey, T. C. , Hernandez, J. T., Gittelman, D. F., & Hulka, J. F. (1993). Relationship of sexual and physical abuse to pain and psychological assessment variables in chronic pelvic pain patients.Pain, 53(1), 105-109.
22.
Walker, E. A. , Katon, W. J., Neraas, K., Jemelka, R. P., & Massoth, D. (1992). Dissociation in women with chronic pelvic pain.American Journal of Psychiatry, 149(4), 534-537.
23.
Wurtele, S. , Kaplan, G. M., & Keairnes, M. (1990). Childhood sexual abuse among chronic pain patients.Clinical Journal of Pain, 6, 110-113.
