[Chronic pain and depression: study of 92 patients]

Was examined the influence of depression in the occurrence and pain intensity. Patients presenting advanced cancer (n = 92) were evaluated. The patients were divided in 2 groups, with or without pain during the week preceding the interview. Pain and depression were evaluated. Pain was observed in 62.0% of the cases and lasted 10 months as an average. It was moderate in the majority of patients and severe in 1/5 of them. Depression was related with the presence and intensity of pain. Patients with pain presented higher depression scores than patients without pain (p < 0.05). Higher pain scores were also correlated with higher depressive scores (p < 0.05).