Journal of Pain Research (Jan 2023)
Prevalence and Correlates of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Functional Anorectal Pain
Abstract
Liping Dong,1,2 Ting Sun,2 Ping Tong,2 Jia Guo,3 Xiaoyan Ke1 1Affifiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Psychology, Yangzhou University Affiliated Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Proctology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou University Affiliated Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaoyan Ke, Child Mental Health Research Center, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 264 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613305176562, Fax +8602982296194, Email [email protected]: Patients with functional anorectal pain (FAP) often experience psychological distress, impaired quality of life, increased healthcare utilisation, and even suicidal tendencies. However, limited data exists on the psychological correlates of FAP in Chinese patients. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and related psychosocial factors in Chinese patients with FAP.Methods: We used a cross-sectional research design and recruited 100 patients with FAP from SuBei Hospital’s multidisciplinary clinic for pelvic floor disorders between January and December 2021. Information on patients’ demographic and disease characteristics was also collected. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with depression and anxiety.Results: The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among patients with FAP was 55% and 46%, respectively. Being a woman, specific marital status (single, divorced, separated, or widowed), longer FAP duration, and sleep disturbance were significantly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Additionally, specific marital status (single, divorced, separated, or widowed), sleep disturbance, and high Visual Analogue Scale scores were associated with anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are prevalent in patients with FAP. Several socio-demographic and clinical predictors have been identified. There is a need for psychologists to be involved in the treatment of patients with FAP. Thus, multidisciplinary treatment may be the optimal treatment strategy.Keywords: functional anorectal pain, depression, anxiety, multidisciplinary treatment
