
%0 Journal Article
%A Cohrssen, Andreas 
%A Aslam, Uzma 
%A Karasz, Allison 
%A Anderson, Matthew 
%T Are unexplained vaginal symptoms associated with psychosocial distress?  A pilot investigation
%J Journal of Primary Health Care
%D 2010/06/01
%V 2
%N 2
%P 150-154
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/HC10150
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HC10150 
%X AIM: Vaginal complaints cannot be definitively diagnosed in approximately one-third of women. We sought to determine if women without a diagnosis had higher levels of psychiatric disorders. METHODS: This was an observational study in an urban family practice clinic. Prior to seeing a clinician, women with vaginal complaints completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ); symptoms were measured by the Vaginal Complaints Scale (VCS). Patients were then examined and treated by a family physician. At one and two weeks&#x92; time patients were contacted by phone regarding symptom resolution and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled 47 patients; one patient was excluded. A diagnosis was made in 36. Eighteen had bacterial vaginosis, 16 had candida, three trichomonas, two HSV, one chlamydia; there were eight dual diagnoses. PHQ diagnoses were slightly less common in women without an identified cause for their symptoms. We obtained follow-up data from 45 subjects at one week and 34 subjects at two weeks&#x92; time. At two weeks&#x92; follow-up, 97% of subjects had complete resolution or improvement of their symptoms. Symptom improvement was equivalent among women with a diagnosis and those without. We estimate 180 subjects would be needed to detect a clinically meaningful difference in PHQ diagnoses. DISCUSSION: Our pilot study did not find an association between psychiatric diagnoses made by the PHQ and unexplained vaginal symptoms. Nearly all patients experienced rapid resolution of symptoms irrespective of whether a diagnosis had been made or not. These findings are limited primarily by the small sample size. KEYWORDS: Vaginitis; psychosocial stress; symptom resolution 
