Pain during depression and relationship to rejection sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
Approximately 50% of patients with depression report symptoms of pain, yet the clinical and biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Recent neuroimaging studies, however, support the contention that depression, as well as pain distress and rejection distress, share the same neurobiological circuits. In this study, we aimed to examine the hypothesis that perception of increased pain during depression is related to increased rejection sensitivity.


METHODS
The present study analysed data from a study of 186 treatment-resistant depressed patients who met DSM-IV criteria for depression and had completed a self-report questionnaire regarding currently perceived pain and rejection sensitivity.


RESULTS
A major increase in the experience of pain during depression was predicted by a major increase in rejection sensitivity during depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of increased pain during depression is related to increased rejection sensitivity. Research to further elucidate this relationship is required.
Ehnvall
A
A
Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. anna.ehnvall@lthalland.se
Mitchell
P B
PB
Hadzi-Pavlovic
D
D
Malhi
G S
GS
Parker
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult