Differences in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and lifetime trauma exposure in formerly abused women with mild versus moderate to severe chronic pain

Although associations between intimate partner violence, chronic pain, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and lifetime trauma exposure are well known, previous studies are limited by their recruitment of women from shelters. These relationships were explored with a community-based sample of formerly abused women (N = 84). Seventy-seven percent of women reported pain of >3 months duration, and 75% had moderate to severe pain. Based on logistic regression analysis, women with moderate to severe chronic pain were significantly less likely to be employed, had more depressive symptoms, and were in the abusive relationship longer than women in mild chronic pain. Both pain severity groups had equally high levels of depressive and PTSD symptoms and multiple trauma exposures. Findings document the persistence of significant symptomatology in formerly abused women. © The Author(s) 2010.

Duke Scholars

Author Janice Carrol Humphreys School of Nursing