The Clinical journal of pain
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It has been widely recognized that an appreciable proportion of chronic pain patients have depressive disorders. Although numerous studies and several literature reviews have examined the relationship between chronic pain and depression, disorders of mood come in many forms, and little attention has been paid to the different types of depressive disorders found among patients with chronic pain. In this article, the different ways in which a chronic pain patient may manifest depression are discussed. ⋯ The medical illnesses and medications that can cause symptoms of depressive disorders are also briefly described. Depressive disorders and their concomitants are an integral part of the experience of chronic pain and are important in developing an optimal treatment plan. For these reasons, they should be carefully evaluated in all patients with chronic pain.