[Pain perception is not influenced by altered autonomic function in major depression].
OBJECTIVE
Depression is a common comorbidity of chronic pain and chronic pain represents a common additional symptom of depressed patients. The physiological basis is unknown.


METHODS
We investigated the possible interrelation between autonomic dysfunction and altered pain perception in unmedicated patients (U1), after introduction of antidepressive therapy (U2) and after clinical remission.


RESULTS
In accordance with previous reports we found increased thermal pain thresholds in our unmedicated patients. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction was not evitable in unmedicated, depressed patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that autonomic dysfunction is unlikely to be involved in the pathophysiology of altered pain perception in depression.
Bär
Karl-Jürgen
KJ
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena. Karl-Juergen.Baer@med.uni-jena.de
Greiner
Wolf
W
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology