Bodily symptoms in moderate and severe depression.
The aim of this study was to describe bodily symptoms in severe depression, testing the hypotheses that patients with depression compared with healthy controls have several specific bodily symptoms and complaints, and furthermore that changes in severity of depression correlate to changes in bodily symptoms. Inpatients (n=29) with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depression (ICD-10) and 29 matched healthy controls were included in the study. Bodily symptoms were assessed with the Body Awareness Scale (BAS) and the severity of depression with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS). Patients were assessed twice, i.e. when admitted to hospital and again when discharged. The patients with severe depression had more muscular tension, pain-complaints, restricted breathing, negative attitudes towards own body and lesser centring in movements compared with the healthy controls (p<0.001). Improvement in bodily symptoms was statistically significant (p<0.01), and an improvement in depression score was observed. The findings of the study may underline the importance of investigating bodily symptoms in depression and indicates a need for a specific physiotherapeutic treatment of patients with moderate to severe depression.
Nyboe Jacobsen
Lene
L
Department of Physical Therapy, Aarhus University Psychiatric Hospital, DK-8240, Risskov, Denmark. lnj@psykiatri.aaa.dk
Smith Lassen
Irene
I
Friis
Preben
P
Videbech
Poul
P
Wentzer Licht
Rasmus
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003710:Demography; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012119:Respiration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires