Abstract

LLORCA, G. J.; MURIEL, C.; GONZALEZ-TABLAS, M. M.  and  DIEZ, M. A.. Relationship between chornic pain character and depression levels. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2007, vol.14, n.1, pp.26-35. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objective: The present study aims to assess chronic pain, an attempt is made to study variables such as intensity, time and origin (nature) of pain and to identify their relationship to the patient's state of mind. A heterogenous sample of patients suffering from chronic pain is used and results are discussed. Material and method: 106 patients with chronic pain participated in the study. Subjects were recruited from the Pain Unit of the Department of Anesthesia of the University Hospital Clinic of Salamanca, Spain. First, participants were asked to fill out a number of questionnaires which included socio- demographic data, clinical diagnosis, duration of suffering across time and pain intensity through VAS (Visual Analogical Scale). Second, they were asked to rate a series of statements a) during the interview and b) during moments of high and low intensity. Finally, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess their state of mind. Participants were divided in three groups, according to the nature of their pain: oncological, neuropathic and nociceptive. Control analyses of pain intensity and time of suffering were conducted (using unifactorial analyses: ANOVAS) to assure homogeneity among the participants. Results and conclusions: Results show that neither pain intensity ñor duration of suffering across time affect one's state of mind. The nature of the pain seems to have an impact on depression, therefore the oncology group gave higher ratings on the clinical scale. Ratings of patients with neuropathic o nociceptive pain fluctuated between low and modérate levéis of emotional impact. In the present study, the unidirectional axiom which implies that psychological reactions are closely related to the severity and the duration of pain is seriously questioned. The results seem to reinforce the theory of the existence of a wide range of variables that affect the perception of pain

Keywords : chronic pain; depression; pain intensity; duration of pain.

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