Psychiatric symptoms and distress differ between patients with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral vestibular disease.
OBJECTIVE
No previous studies have investigated the psychiatric characteristics of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Similarly, no studies have been performed on patients with different chronic somatic symptoms due to a defined medical disease to compare the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity associated with each etiology.


METHODS
After completing the subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90-R, a psychiatrist administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to all subjects. The psychiatric comorbidity in 35 patients with pain due to PHN was compared with a control group of 34 patients with the nonpainful aversive symptom of vertigo due to a peripheral vestibular disorder that caused unilateral hypofunction.


RESULTS
PHN patients had significantly more symptoms of major depression and somatization disorder. No significant differences were found between groups for psychiatric diagnoses. Patients with PHN reported significantly less acutely distressing somatic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the psychiatric symptoms of patients with PHN are distinct from nonspecific acute distress and may be related to the experience of suffering from chronic neuropathic pain. Patients with PHN may not meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, but their psychiatric comorbidity places them at substantial risk for increased pain, suicidal ideation, sustained disability, and the numerous complications of excessive medical evaluation and treatment. Patients with PHN should be evaluated specifically for psychiatric symptoms to reduce potential negative consequences through appropriate treatment.
Clark
M R
MR
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287-5371, USA. mrclark@jhmi.edu
Heinberg
L J
LJ
Haythornthwaite
J A
JA
Quatrano-Piacentini
A L
AL
Pappagallo
M
M
Raja
S N
SN
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications*