Cited by 62Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

Medically unexplained pain complaints are associated with underlying unrecognized mood disorders in primary care

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Agüera, Luis, Failde, Inmaculada, Cervilla, Jorge A, Díaz-Fernández, Paula, Mico, Juan Antonio·2010·BMC Family Practice

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic pain frequently display comorbid depression, but the impact of this concurrence is often underestimated and mistreated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of unrecognized major depression and other mood disorders and comorbid unexplained chronic pain in primary care settings and to explore the associated factors. Also, to compare the use of health services by patients with unexplained chronic pain, both with and without mood disorder comorbidity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of primary care centers. 3189 patients consulting for "unexplained chronic pain" were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) questionnaire. Results: We report: a) a high prevalence of unrecognized mood disorders in patients suffering from unexplained chronic pain complaints (80.4%: CI 95%: 79.0%; 81.8%); b) a greater susceptibility of women to mood disorders (OR adjusted = 1.48; CI 95%:1.22; 1.81); c) a direct relationship between the prevalence of mood disorders and the duration of pain (OR adjusted = 1.01; CI 95%: 1.01; 1.02) d) a higher comorbidity with depression if the pain etiology was unknown (OR adjusted = 1.74; CI 95%: 1.45; 2.10) and, e) an increased use of health care services in patients with such a comorbidity (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The prevalence of undiagnosed mood disorders in patients with unexplained chronic pain in primary care is very high, leading to dissatisfaction with treatment processes and poorer outcomes. Consequently, it seems necessary to explore this condition more regularly in general practice in order to reach accurate diagnoses and to select the appropriate treatment.

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Authors
Agüera, L., Failde, I., Cervilla, J. A., Díaz-Fernández, P., & Mico, J. A.
Affiliations
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
  • Universidad de Cádiz (ES)
  • Universidad de Granada (ES)
  • Boehringer Ingelheim (Spain) (ES)
Corresponding author
Failde, Inmaculada
Venue
BMC Family Practice
Published
2010-03-03
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
17-17
ISSN
1471-2296 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2118498611
Cited by
62
References
39
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 2
FWCI
3.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Family Practice (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Repository of the University of Granada (University of Granada) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Universidad de Granada
  • Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
Keywords
mood disorders, depression, primary care, prevalence, sex differences, pain duration, health care utilization, visual analogue scale
MeSH terms
Chronic Disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Pain, Pain Measurement, Primary Health Care, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Prevalence, Mood Disorders

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