Dahl J, Ormstad H, Aass HCD, Malt UF, Andreassen OA. Changes in pain during a depressive episode and relationship to cytokine levels in major depressive disorder.
Nord J Psychiatry 2024;
78:181-188. [PMID:
38251060 DOI:
10.1080/08039488.2023.2290654]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Depressed patients have an increased incidence of pain. A pathophysiological connection between depression and pain is still not revealed. Immunological activation has been found in both depression and pain. There are few studies of pain and immune activation in patients with depression, without inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
METHODS
This is a naturalistic follow-up study of 50 patients with a major depressive disorder (MDD) depressive episode, without any inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. We have previously reported on the relationship between depression and cytokine levels. In this study, we obtained data of depression, pain and cytokine levels before and after 12 weeks of depression treatment. All patients were medication-free at inclusion.
RESULTS
At inclusion three out of four patients experienced pain, and the pain scores correlated with the depression scores. After treatment, as depression was relieved, the pain scores dropped significantly and were no longer correlated to the depression scores. There were no correlations between pain scores and cytokine levels. Pain level at inclusion did not correlate with depression treatment outcome.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that pain is a feature of depression. Pain levels and cytokine values didn't correlate. Pain at inclusion did not predict depression treatment outcome.
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