Are patients with chronic pain depressed?

Abstract

Of 100 consecutive patients treated in a program for management of chronic pain, 25 were definitely depressed, 39 were probably depressed, and 36 were not depressed. Comparisons between the definitely depressed and nondepressed groups showed them to have strikingly similar characteristics as well as treatment outcome. Nearly 90% of the definitely depressed patients showed resolution of their depression without use of antidepressant medication.