Abstract

MENDES, Natália  and  FIGUEIREDO, Bárbara. Psychological approach to endrometriosis: Women´s pain experience and quality of life improvement. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2012, vol.13, n.1, pp.36-48. ISSN 1645-0086.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting 10 to15% of women in childbearing age. Understanding the impact of this disease on women’s well-being is still a challenge, namely to intervene. Pain is the most current and troublesome symptom. Although medical treatments for pain relief are effective, recurrence rate remains significant, calling for a better understanding and development of new approaches for pain management. A group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for management of associated co-morbidities is suggested, paying special attention to Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP). CBT design can be grounded on information collected from focus groups and a one-group exploratory trial. Evaluation of therapy effectiveness is possible to be performed by comparing group CBT to Usual Care (UC) and Support Group (SG) in a randomized controlled trial. Research in this area could represent an important step in providing a solution to the management of endometriosis and, to the best of our knowledge, the first national psychological approach for its understanding and treatment.

Keywords : endometriosis; women’s experience; chronic pelvic pain; cognitive behavioral therapy.

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