Zdravniški Vestnik (Feb 2013)
Painful physical symptoms in hospitalized patients with acute depressive episode: results from a naturalistic study
Abstract
Backg round: Depressive symptoms in patients with chronic pain (organic or functional) are well recognized. However, studies on pain were mostly conducted in non-psychiatric settings, and there is a paucity of data on painful physical symptoms (PPS) in patients with depression, especially in acute depressive episode (ADE). The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of PPS in patients with ADE and to compare sociodemographic and clinical variables in patients with and without PPS. Methods: 150 somatically healthy patients, hospitalized due to ADE were screened for PPS. Data on PPS location and severity, basic socio-demographic characteristics, illness severity, therapy, suicidality, and comorbid alcohol abuse were collected. Results: 71 % of patients with ADE reported at least one painful physical symptom. Headache was the most common complaint. Patients with PPS had more severe depressive symptoms, lower level of functioning, and were prescribed more analgesics. However, no differences in socio-demographic characteristics, antidepressant therapy, suicidality or alcohol dependence were found. Conclusions: The results show high prevalence of PPS in somatically healthy hospitalized pa-tients with ADE and partly concur with results from similar studies. The high use of analgesics in patients with depression and painful physical symptoms opens the issue of rational pharmacotherapy.
