Cognitive-Emotional Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Context of Female Genital Mutilation.

Around 200 million women and girls worldwide are affected by female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). FGM/C is a procedure that harms or alters the external female genitals for non-medical reasons, and is usually performed on children. Often, this procedure leads to severe consequences for the women's physical and mental health. In a cross-sectional sample of 112 women seeking medical counseling, physical and mental health characteristics associated with FGM/C were examined and possible predictors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women affected by FGM/C were identified. A total of 55.4% (n = 66) of the women reported symptom levels of probable PTSD. Predictors for higher PTSD symptomology were an older age at the time of the FGM/C procedure, feelings of guilt and the centrality of the event in the woman's life. Thus, cognitive-emotional processing was found to play an important role in the emergence of PTSD in women suffering from FGM/C. However, interventions taking into consideration these characteristics are mostly lacking and need to be investigated further in the context of FGM/C.

[Psychological Strain due to Female Genital Mutilation: An Explorative Analysis in the Context of Medical Counselling]. / Psychische Belastung durch weibliche Genitalverstümmelung: Eine explorative Untersuchung im Rahmen einer medizinischen Sprechstunde.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that injures or removes parts of the external female genitals for nonmedical reasons and without the consent of the affected girls. Often this procedure leads to severe consequences for the women's physical and mental health. Reconstructive surgery can reduce these symptoms. In an exploratory study of 97 women seeking medical counselling, characteristics of the sample were analysed descriptively, reasons for reconstructive surgery were examined and agreement between the women's knowledge with the results of the medical examination was assessed. 56.7% (n=55) of the women examined were suspected to suffer from PTSD. Relief of pain was the reason most frequently mentioned for reconstructive surgery (45.4%; n=44). Accordance between women's knowledge of anatomic structures and the degree of mutilation with the results of the medical examination was low (κ=0.09). In addition to surgical measures, women suffering from FGM should be offered psychotherapeutic assistance. To improve the understanding on the effect of psychotherapy after FGM, sound longitudinal studies are indispensable.