title: Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of beta-endorphin in chronic low back pain patients. Influence of depression and treatment.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta-endorphin concentrations were determined before and after treatment in 28 patients suffering chronic neuralgic low back pain/sciatica. Nine patients carried the additional diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Pain treatment was multimodal and resulted in variable pain reduction. CSF beta-endorphin concentrations spanned a wide range with no association to age, gender, pain ratings, depressive symptomatology, and drug intake. CSF beta-endorphin concentrations were not influenced by the presence of major depressive disorder and did not change with successful treatment of pain and resolution of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012585:Sciatica / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012803:Sick Role; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin