
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Cohrssen, Andreas 
A1  - Aslam, Uzma 
A1  - Karasz, Allison 
A1  - Anderson, Matthew 
T1  - Are unexplained vaginal symptoms associated with psychosocial distress?  A pilot investigation
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2010
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
SP  - 150
EP  - 154
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC10150 
N2  - 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 
ER  -

