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OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the demographic and psychosocial profiles of women with chronic pelvic pain, chronic pain in a different site, and those with no history of pain with specific reference to a history of sexual abuse. DESIGN: A prospective comparative study. SETTING: Pelvic Pain Clinic at Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust, Pain Management Clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust and two General Practices. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty women with chronic pelvic pain, 30 women with chronic pain in a different site and 30 women attending their general practitioner with no history of pain. INTERVENTIONS: A specifically designed patient profile questionnaire to identify and explore incidents of sexual and physical abuse was administered to each woman by a research psychologist for confidential self-completion. Data were also collected on other demographic, medical and psychosocial characteristics. RESULTS: Women with chronic pelvic pain were found to have a higher lifetime prevalence of sexual abuse, involving penetration or other genital contact compared with the two comparison groups. The prevalence of physical abuse was the same in all groups. Women in the pelvic pain group were more likely to have approached their GP for symptoms not related to pelvic pain than women in the other two groups and the incidence of clinical anxiety was significantly higher in this group compared with the pain-free group. The prevalence of sexual problems was much higher in the group with pelvic pain compared with the other two groups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that women with chronic pelvic pain have a higher incidence of past sexual abuse compared with women in a comparison pain group and with women with no pain.

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The loss of a pregnancy in the first trimester is a common event and recent research has identified high levels of psychological distress amongst women who have miscarried. We believe this study is the first to examine the phenomenon from a longitudinal perspective using standardized measures. A sample of 65 women was rated for anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at intervals of one, six and 12 weeks following early miscarriage. The results indicate that a large proportion of the sample had clinically important levels of anxiety (41 per cent) and depression (22 per cent) in the first week following miscarriage, which declined to 32 per cent and 6 per cent respectively by the 12th week. No association was observed between levels of psychological morbidity and a number of social and obstetric variables, the only exception being whether or not the pregnancy had been planned. These results are discussed with reference to the relevant literature. The possible implications for further research and clinical practice are addressed.

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Seventy-six wives of patients suffering a first myocardial infarction were studied by questionnaire 6 weeks after their husbands went home. Despite the routine provision of support and information to spouses during their husband's stay in hospital, a high proportion reported physical and emotional symptoms of stress. The majority of wives felt they were poorly informed about myocardial infarction, had not had enough opportunity to ask the experts questions, and had received most support from relatives. The reasons for these findings are discussed and suggestions for early and systematic nursing intervention are made in an attempt to reduce stress and prevent the development of unhealthy patterns of behaviour.

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Anxiety was studied on four occasions over one year in 76 men under 66 years of age, who were admitted to hospital with a first acute myocardial infarction. Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and by a self-rating questionnaire. Average levels of State and self-rated anxiety fluctuated over the study period with levels peaking after admission, falling at the fifth day, rising at six weeks, and falling to their lowest level at one year. Reported specific sources of anxiety, including the myocardial infarction, return to work, the future and possible complications, ranked highest in hospital and at six weeks post-discharge.

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Relatives of stroke patients were asked about their knowledge and anxieties about strokes at three points in time: 72 hours after hospital admission, immediately prior to discharge, and 6 months post-discharge. During the period of hospitalization relatives were provided with information and encouraged to participate in patient care with the aim of increasing their skills in coping with the stroke patient at home. The relatives reported to be coping with the practical problems of care, but all reported problems with the emotional aspects of caring for the stroke patient.

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