title: Depression and pain interference among patients with chronic pain after ED encounters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic pain who frequent emergency departments present a challenge to health care providers. Mental health, substance abuse, and pain issues are difficult to distinguish in fast-paced clinical settings, and significant symptoms may remain unaddressed. This pilot study sought to determine whether electronically delivered screening tools measuring pain and mood could identify areas to target for improving emergency care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, descriptive pilot study used repeated measures of validated instruments to investigate the status of patients after their ED encounter. Persons with chronic pain not related to cancer and documented opioid use were recruited by nursing personnel after an ED encounter. Consenting participants (n = 52) were invited to perform an online survey that included self-reported measurements of pain intensity, pain interference, depression, subjective health, and health distress. The survey was repeated after 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline survey was completed by 42.3% of 52 patients who provided consent (n = 22, 68.2% female). The mean pain severity score was 5.96 (SD 1.57) and the mean pain interference score was 7.52 (SD 1.81) using 0 to 10 scales of the Brief Pain Inventory. Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale ratings indicated that a major depressive disorder should be considered for 54% of the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online surveys delivered to patients with chronic pain detected unmet needs for depression and persisting high levels of pain interference after ED encounters. Adding mood-specific screening tools to pain assessments may be necessary in clinical settings to identify depression and refer for appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID. Electronic address: marian.wilson@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roll
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID.
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID.
authors.forename: Bat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Masterson
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID.
authors.forename: Donelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.affiliation: Spokane and Pullman, WA; Coeur d'Alene, ID.
authors.forename: Celestina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbosa-Leiker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Chronic pain; Depression; Pain interference