History of Abuse in Women Referred to the Women`s Heart Clinic- Not so Rare

Background: Psychosocial factors contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) .One of the more potent psychosocial adversities is abuse or victimization .Women who were sexually abused as children are more likely to show early signs CVD. The Women`s heart clinic offers comprehensive treatment in order to prevent CVD in women. A medical psychologist is assigned in the women`s heart clinic.

Aim: To describe the incidence of reported history of abuse in women refereed to the women`s heart clinic

Methods and results: From 12/ 2013 to 9/2015, 125 women were referred to the psychologists. 91 (72.8%) of them arrived to the first appointment and started a psychological assessment and intervention. Most of the women assessed (77%) were married. The average age of the women assessed was 56.8+12 years. 39 women (43%) had CVD. The mean number of meetings was 3.7+3. The interventions were focused on six different therapeutic themes: stress management: 33 (36.5%), depression/anxiety 23 (25.5%), coping with disease: 12 (13%), changing life habits 11 (12%), coping with medical procedure 7 (7.5 %), different issues 5 (5.5%). 7 women (7.7%) at a mean age of 56.7+6 reported previous sexual abuse not diagnosed or treated till now. All had multiple risk factors for CVD and one had overt disease. All needed psychological evaluation and intervention due to multiple somatic complaints, anxiety or depression. The psychological sessions were based on the method of integrative psychotherapy. All women reported emotional relief after revealing their history. They were referred for further out of hospital psychological intervention.

Clinical implications: It is important to consider early life stressors on women`s later cardiovascular risks. Since exposure to trauma and abuse, particularly childhood sexual abuse, is linked to later CVD risk in midlife women, we believe that psychological assessment and intervention may help reveal relevant history in women.