Rivista di Psichiatria
Volume 42, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 183-188

Female Genital Mutilations: Echoes in the mind of scars on the body. A clinical and psychopathological study on a group of immigrant women in Sicily [Mutilazioni Genitali Femminili (MGF): Echi nella mente di cicatrici sul corpo. Studio clinico e psicopatologico su un gruppo di donne immigrate in Sicilia] (Article)

Lo Baido R.* , La Grutta S. , Profeta E. , Schiera G.
  • a Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Cliniche, Università di Palermo, Italy
  • b Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Palermo, Italy
  • c Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Palermo, Italy
  • d Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Palermo, Italy

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to draw attention to the psychological background and complications of Female Genital Mutilations (FGM), in relation to the body. Methods. We recruited 20 women immigrants who underwent FGM in their countries and who had been in Italy for more than five years (average age: 33±9). Ten women had FGM I (slight), ten women had FGM III (deep). We administered the Somatic Inkblot Series (SIS), a semi projective test which explores the perception of the body and identifies some possible conflictual or non-mentalized areas. Results. The women with FGM III had significantly higher PAS (Pathological Anatomy Score), ATR (Anxiety-Threat Rating), D (Depression) and Sex (Sexuality) scores and significantly lower Somatic Repression (SR) scores than women with FGM I. Discussion. There was a difference in relationship with their body between women with FGM I and those with FGM III, but no differences in cognitive performances, anxiety, symbolic function or defensive strategies (which are organized around dissociation). The larger wound on the body, the more compromised are the relationship with it, the womens' self-confidence and the feeling of trust in others.

Author Keywords

Mentalization Female Genital Mutilations Body

Index Keywords

anxiety controlled study perception female cognition Personality depression immigrant Italy scar psychological aspect Article female circumcision human adult sexuality
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34250815098&partnerID=40&md5=83e48edf3e4a068abfda7a15a5fa8942
ISSN: 00356484
Original Language: Italian