{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,12]],"date-time":"2026-09-12T01:35:03Z","timestamp":1789176903856,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,28]],"date-time":"2024-04-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1714262400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo\u2014Trieste, Italy"},{"name":"Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JPM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder with a multifactorial etiology that has not yet been fully elucidated. What is known, however, are the pathological tissue dynamics that lead to the complex symptoms that women suffer from. The known symptoms are mainly fertility problems and pain. Both dimensions have an impact that varies from case to case, but that is certainly decisive concerning a woman\u2019s health, specifically by affecting the overall quality of life (QoL). In this publication, we will deal with the descriptive aspects of endometriosis\u2019s pathology and then present a review of the aspects impacting QoL and their psycho-social consequences. Finally, the experience of pain in the context of the mind\u2013brain\u2013body relationship will be discussed, describing the complexity of this dimension and emphasizing the importance of a multi-professional approach that considers the relevance of the contribution that a psychotherapy intervention based on up-to-date neurobiological models can make for women with endometriosis. A review of the literature and current knowledge on the neural and psychological aspects of pain lead to the conclusion that it is of the utmost importance to provide informed psychological support, alongside medical treatments and sexual counseling, to patients with endometriosis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm14050466","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]],"date-time":"2024-04-30T09:50:07Z","timestamp":1714470607000},"page":"466","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["A Psychological Point of View on Endometriosis and Quality of Life: A Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Elisa","family":"Farenga","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matteo","family":"Bulfon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cristiana","family":"Dalla Zonca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Costanza","family":"Tersar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8031-1102","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Ricci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste (UniTS), Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Di Lorenzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S.C.U. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d, Via dell\u2019Istria, 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1326-8765","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Clarici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste (UniTS), Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy"},{"name":"Centro Formazione e Ricerca in Psicoterapia a Orientamento Psicoanalitico, Via Antonio Canova, 2, 34129 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lamceva, J., Uljanovs, R., and Strumfa, I. (2023). The Main Theories on the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24054254"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"242149","article-title":"Endometriosis: A disease that remains enigmatic","volume":"2013","author":"Velasco","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. Sch. Res. Not."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Italian Ministry of Health (2023, December 15). Women\u2019s Health\u2014Endometriosis, Available online: https:\/\/www.salute.gov.it\/portale\/donna\/dettaglioContenutiDonna.jsp?id=4487&area=Salute%20donna&menu=patologie."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"734","DOI":"10.3109\/09513590903159664","article-title":"Endometriosis in Italy: From cost estimates to new medical treatment","volume":"25","author":"Luisi","year":"2009","journal-title":"Gynecol. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Catelan, D., Giangreco, M., Biggeri, A., Barbone, F., Monasta, L., Ricci, G., Romano, F., Rosolen, V., Zito, G., and Ronfani, L. (2021). Spatial Patterns of Endometriosis Incidence. A Study in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) in the Period 2004\u20132017. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3839465"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morassutto, C., Monasta, L., Ricci, G., Barbone, F., and Ronfani, L. (2016). Incidence and Estimated Prevalence of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis in Northeast Italy: A Data Linkage Study. PLoS ONE, 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0154227"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Monnin, N., Fattet, A.J., and Koscinski, I. (2023). Endometriosis: Update of Pathophysiology, (Epi) Genetic and Environmental Involvement. Biomedicines, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines11030978"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7924021","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/7924021","article-title":"The Role of Oxidative Stress and Membrane Transport Systems during Endometriosis: A Fresh Look at a Busy Corner","volume":"2018","author":"Vitale","year":"2018","journal-title":"Oxid. Med. Cell Longev."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Leung, P.C.K., and Qiao, J. (2023). Human Reproductive and Prenatal Genetics, Academic Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161028","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.161028","article-title":"Detention and mapping of iron and toxic environmental elements in human ovarian endometriosis: A suggested combined role","volume":"864","author":"Pascolo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santin, A., Spedicati, B., Morgan, A., Lenarduzzi, S., Tesolin, P., Nardone, G.G., Mazz\u00e0, D., Di Lorenzo, G., Romano, F., and Buonomo, F. (2023). Puzzling Out the Genetic Architecture of Endometriosis: Whole-Exome Sequencing and Novel Candidate Gene Identification in a Deeply Clinically Characterised Cohort. Biomedicines, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines11082122"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Patrick, D.L., and Erickson, P. (1993). Health Status and Health Policy: Quality of Life in Health Care Evaluation and Resource Allocation, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Preto, O., Amaral, O., Duarteb, J., Chaves, C., Coutinho, E., and Nelas, P. (2016, January 6\u20139). Quality of life and chronic disease in patients receiving primary health care. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Health and Health Psychology, Porto, Portugal.","DOI":"10.15405\/epsbs.2016.07.02.21"},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Word Health Organization (1948). Constitution of Word Health Organization (WHO), Word Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.maturitas.2023.04.272","article-title":"Impact of endometriosis on women\u2019s health-related quality of life: A national prospective cohort study","volume":"174","author":"Gete","year":"2023","journal-title":"Maturitas"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1230303","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1230303","article-title":"The impact of endometriosis on depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life: A systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Tarkowski","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychores.2023.111197","article-title":"Body image, self-compassion, and sexual distress in individuals living with endometriosis","volume":"167","author":"Sherman","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Psychosom. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"475","article-title":"Quality of life in patients with endometriosis: Recent trends","volume":"34","author":"Geremia","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ital. J. Gynaecol. Obstet."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Fenelli, A., and Lorenzini, R. (2019). Clinic of Sexual Dysfunction, Carocci Editore."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2015.08.015","article-title":"Analysis of psychopathological comorbidity behind the common symptoms and signs of endometriosis","volume":"194","author":"Condemi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2006). Defining Sexual Health\u2014Report of a Technical Consultation on Sexual Health, World Health Organization. Sexual Health Document Series."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2011.05.090","article-title":"Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: A multicenter study across ten countries","volume":"96","author":"Kelechi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Poordast, T., Alborzi, S., Askary, E., Tavabe, M.S., Najib, F.S., Salehi, A., Vardanjani, H.M., Haghighat, N., and Leilami, K. (2022). Comparing the quality of life of endometriotic patients\u2019 before and after treatment with normal and infertile patients based on the EHP30 questionnaire. BMC Women Health, 22.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-022-02052-x"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Warzecha, D., Szymusik, I., Wielgos, M., and Pietrzak, B. (2021). The Impact of Endometriosis on the Quality of Life and the Incidence of Depression\u2014A Cohort Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17103641"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1080\/07399332.2017.1397671","article-title":"Examining subjective well-being and health-related quality of life in women with endometriosis","volume":"39","author":"Rush","year":"2018","journal-title":"Health Care Women Int."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1667","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/dex221","article-title":"A qualitative study of the impact of endometriosis on male partners","volume":"32","author":"Culley","year":"2017","journal-title":"Hum Reprod."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"9","article-title":"Sexual and reproductive health: A concept for revision?","volume":"7","author":"Ranisio","year":"2019","journal-title":"EthnoAntropology"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Delli Zotti, G., and Urpis, O. (2020). The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Migrant Women. A Cross-Border Perspective. Sociological Workshop. Empirical Research and Social Intervention, FrancoAngeli."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Landi, N. (2016). Educating (to) Sexuality: From Prevention to Sexual Health Promotion for Adolescents. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Bologna]."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"700","DOI":"10.2522\/ptj.20100330","article-title":"Impact of psychological factors in the experience of pain","volume":"91","author":"Linton","year":"2011","journal-title":"Phys. Ther."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3495","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/aws129","article-title":"A Bayesian account of \u2018hysteria\u2019","volume":"135","author":"Edwards","year":"2012","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3279","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awab358","article-title":"Functional neurological disorder: Lighting the way to a new paradigm for medicine","volume":"144","author":"Edwards","year":"2021","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1095","DOI":"10.1093\/pm\/pnaa370","article-title":"The Stressful Characteristics of Pain That Drive You NUTS: A Qualitative Exploration of a Stress Model to Understand the Chronic Pain Experience","volume":"22","author":"Dassieu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pain Med."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1002\/mpr.140","article-title":"Patients presenting with somatic complaints: Epidemiology, psychiatric comorbidity and management","volume":"12","author":"Kroenke","year":"2003","journal-title":"Int. J. Methods Psychiatr. Res."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"707","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-3999(92)90128-O","article-title":"Negative affect and the experience of chronic pain","volume":"36","author":"Gaskin","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Psychosom. Res."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.2147\/JPR.S190003","article-title":"Who benefits from multimodal rehabilitation\u2014An exploration of pain, psychological distress, and life impacts in over 35,000 chronic pain patients identified in the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation","volume":"12","author":"Gerdle","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Pain Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109756","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychores.2019.109756","article-title":"Psychological and mind-body interventions for endometriosis: A systematic review","volume":"124","author":"Evans","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Psychosom. Res."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.2147\/IJWH.S119724","article-title":"Self-management and psychological-sexological interventions in patients with endometriosis: Strategies, outcomes, and integration into clinical care","volume":"9","author":"Buggio","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Womens Health"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"679","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2017.07.016","article-title":"Pain cognition versus pain intensity in patients with endometriosis: Towards personalized treatment","volume":"108","author":"Oosterman","year":"2017","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"M\u00e1rki, G., V\u00e1s\u00e1rhelyi, D., Rig\u00f3, A., Kal\u00f3, Z., \u00c1cs, N., and Bokor, A. (2022). Challenges of and possible solutions for living with endometriosis: A qualitative study. BMC Women Health, 22.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-022-01603-6"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gozdziewicz, T., Jarzabek-Bielecka, G., Luwanski, D., Wojcik, M., Plagens-Rotman, K., Mizgier, M., Pisarska-Krawczyk, M., and Kedzia, W. (2022). The Role of Visceral Therapy in the Sexual Health of Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review. J. Clin. Med., 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11195825"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1099","DOI":"10.1177\/1933719110381927","article-title":"Generalized hyperalgesia in women with endometriosis and its resolution following a successful surgery","volume":"17","author":"He","year":"2010","journal-title":"Reprod. Sci."}],"container-title":["Journal of Personalized Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4426\/14\/5\/466\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:34:59Z","timestamp":1760106899000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4426\/14\/5\/466"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,28]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5]]}},"alternative-id":["jpm14050466"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jpm14050466","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4426"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4426","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,28]]}}}