Psychosomatic Aspects of Endometriosis

Abstract

From a patient's perspective and experience endometriosis is characterized by six major challenges and stressors: 1) often the diagnosis is delayed; 2) the cause of the disease is unknown; 3) it is a chronic recurrent disease; 4) it affects young women; 5) it is accompanied by chronic pain and dyspareunia; 6) it may lead to infertility. These features create psychological needs for patients which should be responded to by an integrated basic psychosomatic care. This includes respect and empathy, patient centered communication, adequate response to negative emotions, establishment of a helpful and lasting therapeutic relationship, psychoeducation, empowerment and shared decision making. Apart from this basic psychosomatic care which can be provided by each treating physician or nurse, some conditions need more specialized psychosomatic care in the context of a multidisciplinary team: Chronic pain services, Infertility treatment teams, Sexual counselling and therapy and treatment of psychiatric comorbities or sequelae of the disease like depression, anxiety disorder etc. Psychosomatic care should thus be integrated into the biomedical diagnosis and therapy of endometriosis.