Prevalence of unrecognized depression in patients with chronic pain without a history of psychiatric diseases
10.3344/kjp.2018.31.2.116
- Author:
Ho Jin LEE
1
;
Eun Joo CHOI
;
Francis Sahngun NAHM
;
In Young YOON
;
Pyung Bok LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. painfree@snubh.org
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Age factors;
Chronic pain;
Delayed diagnosis;
Depression;
Marital status;
Mental disorders;
Outpatient clinics;
Pain clinics
- MeSH:
Age Factors;
Ambulatory Care Facilities;
Chronic Pain;
Cohort Studies;
Delayed Diagnosis;
Depression;
Education;
Female;
Humans;
Incidence;
Male;
Marital Status;
Mental Disorders;
Pain Clinics;
Prevalence;
Single Person;
Volunteers
- From:The Korean Journal of Pain
2018;31(2):116-124
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of unrecognized depression in patients with chronic pain, but with no history of psychiatric diseases. METHODS: Patients with chronic pain who did not have a history of psychiatric disease were selected for this study. The Beck Depression Index (BDI) was used to evaluate depression. Participants' socio-demographic characteristics and pain-related characteristics were also recorded. RESULTS: The study included 94 consecutive patients with chronic pain (28 men and 66 women). Based on the BDI scores, 33/94 (35.1%) patients with chronic pain had comorbid depression. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in our cohort than it was in the general population (P < 0.001). The standardized incidence ratio, adjusted for age and sex, was 2.77 in men and 2.60 in women. Patients who were unmarried (odds ratio [OR] = 3.714, P = 0.044), and who had subjective sleep disturbance (OR = 8.885, P < 0.001), were more likely to have moderate to severe depression. Patients with high education levels (OR = 0.244, P = 0.016), and who were economically active (OR = 0.284, P = 0.023), were less likely to have moderate to severe depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that unrecognized depression in patients with chronic pain is common. Therefore, pain physicians should actively seek to identify these problems rather than relying on the patient to volunteer such information.
