Sexual intercourse is painful for many patients and as a result, sexual interest and frequency often decline. Decreased sexual contact and enjoyment of sexual interactions may exacerbate depression and anxiety associated with interstitial cystitis. Medical syndromes that are difficult to diagnose, respond poorly to treatment, and afflict women more than men are often regarded as symptomatic of psychiatric disturbance. Until recently, patients with symptoms of interstitial cystitis stood a good change of being misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric, not a urological, disorder. There is no excuse to attribute patient's urological symptoms to psychopathology.
Interstitial cystitis is a urological disorder with psychologically distressing symptoms.
Although stress may increase symptoms, IC is not caused by psychological difficulties or stress. IC patients with moderate to severe symptoms are particularly susceptible to depression and anxiety because of chronic pain and sleep deprivation. It is not unusual for chronic pain patients to feel little control over their lives, withdrawing from others and experiencing reduced quality of life. This is not adaptive. Good mental health requires us to continue to engage in meaningful activities and interact with others regularly.