%0 Journal Article
%T Effective Interventions for Idiopathic Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review.
%A Wirtz MR
%A Revenson TA
%A Ford JS
%A Karas AN
%J Int J Behav Med
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jul 24
%M 39048889
%F 2.5
%R 10.1007/s12529-024-10309-y
%X BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a debilitating condition with symptoms that affect both medical and psychological systems, yet for those with idiopathic CPP (i.e., those without a known physiologic cause), no consensus for intervention exists.
OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to identify the effectiveness of current biomedical, psychosocial, and integrative interventions for idiopathic CPP (ICPP).
METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycInfo, Web of Science) were systematically searched with multiple keywords for publications from 2008-2022. Articles were coded for sample characteristics, research design, type of intervention, and intervention outcomes.
RESULTS: Nineteen studies met criteria. The majority of the interventions (14 studies) were biomedical, either invasive (e.g., injections), or non-invasive (e.g., medications). Five studies evaluated integrative interventions that combined biomedical and psychosocial components (e.g., a multimodal pain treatment center). Invasive biomedical interventions were better at relieving short-term pain and non-invasive biomedical interventions were superior for long-term pain; integrated interventions reduced both short-term and long-term pain. Integrative interventions also improved mental health, sexual health, and QOL.
CONCLUSIONS: Although most interventions for ICPP have been biomedical, integrative interventions showed greater outcome effectiveness, suggesting a focus on integrative interventions in the future.