Chronic pain in a psychiatric clinic

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pain Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic pain is a significant issue in psychiatric settings.
• Understanding the characteristics of chronic pain patients is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of chronic pain in psychiatric outpatients.
• To compare the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of chronic pain patients with psychiatric patients without chronic pain.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in a psychiatric outpatient clinic.
• Patients were assessed for chronic pain and psychiatric diagnoses.
• Demographic data were collected and compared between chronic pain and non-pain groups.

Main Results:

• 14.37% of psychiatric patients reported chronic pain.
• Chronic pain patients were more likely to be middle-aged females, married, and from urban areas.
• Diagnostic prevalence showed higher rates of dysthymic disorder (43%), anxiety states (20%), and somatoform disorders (20%) in chronic pain patients.

Conclusions:

• Chronic pain is prevalent in psychiatric outpatients, with distinct demographic and diagnostic profiles.
• Dysthymic and anxiety disorders are significantly associated with chronic pain in this population.
• Identifying these differentiating variables can inform clinical practice and research in comorbid pain and psychiatric conditions.