Prevalence of violence exposure in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder in comparison with other gynecological patients and asymptomatic controls

Objective. The aim of the present study was to estimate prevalence rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in comparison with gynecological outpatients and asymptomatic healthy control subjects. Design. Cross-sectional study. Settings. Departments of obstetrics and gynecology in three different Swedish hospitals. Population. Fifty-eight women meeting strict criteria for PMDD, a control group of 102 women seeking care at the gynecological outpatient clinic (ObGyn controls) and 47 asymptomatic healthy control subjects were included in this study. Methods. The Swedish version of the Abuse Assessment Screen was used to collect information on physical and sexual abuse, and the screening instrument was administered as a face-to-face interview. Main Outcome Measures. Previous and ongoing physical and sexual abuse. Results. Any lifetime abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) was reported by 31.0% of PMDD patients, by 39.2% of ObGyn controls and by 21.3% of healthy controls. The ObGyn controls reported physical and/or emotional abuse significantly more often than PMDD patients as well as healthy controls (p<0.05). Lifetime sexual abuse was reported significantly more often by ObGyn controls than by healthy controls (p<0.05). Conclusions. Patients with PMDD appear not to have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse to a greater extent than other gynecological patients or healthy control subjects. However, exposure to violence was common in all groups of interviewed women, and for the individual patient these experiences may contribute to their experience of symptoms.