title: Pain perception in major depressive disorder: a neurophysiological case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and pain may sometimes be related conditions. Occasionally, depression may be associated with physical symptoms, such as back pain and headache. Moreover, depression may impair the subjective response to pain and is likely to influence the pain feeling. Conversely, chronic pain may represent an emotional condition as well as physical sensation, and can influence both the mood and behaviour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To better understand the relationship between pain and depression, we therefore assessed the pain threshold and the tolerance pain threshold in patients with depressive disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study and selected patients who had recently received a diagnosis of major depression (DSM-IV), before treatment, and without any significant pain complaints. Age- and sex-matched healthy controls were also included. Tactile and pain thresholds were assessed in all subjects through an electrical stimulation test. All results were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  27 patients and 27 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Tactile, pain and tolerance thresholds were evaluated in all subjects. The pain threshold and pain tolerance were lower in patients with major depression than controls. All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the abnormal processing of pain stimuli in depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: San Martino Hospital Department of Neurology, Belluno, Viale Europa 22 CAP 32100, Italy. Electronic address: sandro.zambito@ulss.belluno.it.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zambito Marsala
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Santorso Hospital, via Garziere 73, 36014 Santorso, Vicenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pistacchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10-37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tocco
authors.affiliation: San Martino Hospital Department of Neurology, Belluno, Viale Europa 22 CAP 32100, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gioulis
authors.affiliation: San Martino Hospital Department of Neurology, Belluno, Viale Europa 22 CAP 32100, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10-37134 Verona, Italy; Division of Neurology, "Franz Tappeiner" Hospital, Via Rossini, 5-39012 Merano, BZ, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10-37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tinazzi
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D055698:Touch Perception
keywords: Chronic pain; Clinical pain; Depression; Pain; Pain threshold; Pain tolerance; Somatosensory system