Mianserin and chronic pain: a double-blind placebo-controlled process and outcome study.
There is evidence that antidepressants may have an analgesic effect in chronic pain. To replicate this effect and to throw light on the processes involved, a 12-week cross-over double-blind trial of mianserin versus placebo was carried out in 4 diagnostic groups: A) depressive patients without pain complaints (n = 8), B) depressive patients with chronic organic pain (n = 8), C) patients with somatoform pain disorder and vital signs of depression (n = 11) and D) patients with chronic organic pain without depression (n = 8). Although a mianserin-induced antidepressant effect in group A was evident, no significant pain reduction was accomplished in any group. The reasons for this failure to replicate the antidepressant-induced analgesic effect are discussed.
Onghena
P
P
Faculty of Psychology and Education, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.
De Cuyper
H
H
Van Houdenhove
B
B
Verstraeten
D
D
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D008803:Mianserin