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Biological markers for depression in chronic pain
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|July 1, 1982
Summary
Chronic psychogenic pain may be a form of depression, with biological markers like shortened REM latency and nonsuppression of the dexamethasone suppression test predicting antidepressant response in pain-prone patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Chronic psychogenic pain is often linked to underlying mental distress, termed pain-prone disorder.
- This condition shares characteristics with depressive disorders, supported by clinical and biological evidence.
- Biological markers for depression, such as abnormal REM latency and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results, are relevant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and significance of biological markers of depression in patients with chronic psychogenic pain and insomnia.
- To determine if these markers correlate with each other and predict treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Studied 20 consecutive patients diagnosed with pain-prone disorder and insomnia.
- Assessed sleep via rapid eye movement (REM) latency.
- Administered the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) to evaluate cortisol levels.
Main Results:
- Half of the patients exhibited abnormal REM latency or DST nonsuppression.
- A significant correlation was found between DST cortisol levels and REM latency.
- Both abnormal REM latency and DST nonsuppression showed a tendency to predict positive response to antidepressant medication.
Conclusions:
- Pain-prone disorder can be conceptualized as a variant of depressive disease.
- Biological markers of depression are present in a subset of these patients.
- These markers may aid in identifying patients who will benefit from antidepressant treatment.
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