A case of chronic pelvic pain treated with the Morita therapeutic approach

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain is a debilitating life-altering syndrome that negatively affects a woman' s quality of life and personal relationships. A 36-year woman with persistent pelvic pain was treated with psychosomatic therapy using the Morita therapeutic approach. Leading a life without any sexual relationships, and devoting herself entirely to her job, this patient had her first sexual encounter at the age of 36. She experienced "trivial" intrapelvic discomfort at the time, which gradually became an excruciating lower abdominal pain which lead to chronic general malaise, shoulder muscle stiffness, and anxiety hold to the extent that she had difficulty in her daily activities (work, daily house/management, etc.) Adding to her nervous and hypochondriacal personality, imprudent diagnosis and explanation by a gynecologist appeared to have increased her chronic pelvic pain. Her feeling of pain progressively led to pain-prone behaviors in daily life. Basic psychotherapy was performed for 6 months, but her symptoms were never improved. She had a negative attitude toward drug therapy. Six months after the first visit, she was treated with the Morita therapeutic approach and operant conditioning technique (behavior therapy). These therapies gradually reduced her pelvic pain, and she was able to start a new constructive life with a positive attitude.