Prevalence of sexual and physical abuse in patients with obstructed defecation: impact on biofeedback treatment.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: obstructed defecation is one of the most common subtypes of constipation, and it is frequently responsive to biofeedback treatment.Aims: since a history of sexual and physical abuse may be present in patients with obstructed defecation, we assessed the incidence of abuse history in patients with obstructed defecation referred to a general gastroenterology practice, and whether such a history may lead to a different outcome of biofeedback training in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: one hundred and twenty-one patients (17 men, 104 women, age 53 +/- 15 years) with obstructed defecation were studied by retrospective chart review. Their history of sexual, physical and psychological abuse was obtained by a standard interview, and biofeedback training was carried out by means of a three-balloon technique. RESULTS: a history of sexual/physical or psychological abuse was present in 12.4% patients. Biofeedback training yielded a successful improvement of obstructed defecation in 93% patients without abuse and in 100% of patients with abuse; this difference was not statistically different (p = 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of sexual/physical or psychological abuse in a population of patients with obstructed defecation referred to a general gastroenterology practice is relatively low; such a history seems not to affect the outcome of biofeedback training in these patients.

Author information

Author/s: Solé, L I (LI); Bolino, M C (MC); Lueso, M (M); Caro, L (L); Cerisoli, C (C); Castiglia, N (N); Bassotti, G (G);

Affiliation: Methodology Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Revista española de enfermedades digestivas : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva (Rev Esp Enferm Dig), published in Spain. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 101 (issue 7) : pp 464-7

Dates: Created 2009/07/31; Completed 2009/10/28;

PMID: 19642837, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/28/2009, IMS Date: )

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