Changes in instrumental activities of daily living disability after treatment of depressive symptoms in elderly women with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of antidepressant therapy on changes in instrumental activities of daily living disability in elderly female patients with musculoskeletal pain in a controlled study comparing active drugs with a placebo.


METHODS
In an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled outpatient trial, 30 female patients (response rate 90.0%) between 70 and 79 were examined. They all had a history of clinically evident musculoskeletal pain, were afflicted with depressive symptoms, and could independently bathe, walk, dress, and transfer (e.g., from a chair) inside the house. The study was performed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL).


RESULTS
Compared with the placebo-group, significant changes in the CES-D (p<0.01) and IADL (p<0.01) scales were observed after eight weeks in the active drug-treated subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of depressive symptoms may be efficacious in reducing IADL disability in elderly female patients afflicted with musculoskeletal pain.
Nickel
Marius K
MK
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, Inntalklinik, 84359 Simbach am Inn, Germany. m.nickel@inntalklinik.de
Nickel
Cerstin
C
Lahmann
Claas
C
Mitterlehner
Ferdinand O
FO
Tritt
Karin
K
Leiberich
Peter K
PK
Rother
Wolfhardt K
WK
Loew
Thomas H
TH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010919:Placebos