title: Diagnosing Depression in Chronic Pain Patients: DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder vs. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosing depression in chronic pain is challenging due to overlapping somatic symptoms. In questionnaires, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), responses may be influenced more by pain than by the severity of depression. In addition, previous studies have suggested that symptoms of negative self-image, a key element in depression, are uncommon in chronic pain-related depression. The object of this study is to assess the relationship of the somatic and cognitive-emotional items of BDI with the diagnosis of depression, pain intensity, and disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive chronic pain patients completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-IV. Two subscales of BDI (negative view of self and somatic-physical function) were created according to the factor model presented by Morley.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the regression analysis, the somatic-physical function factor associated with MDD, while the negative view of self factor did not. Patients with MDD had higher scores in several of the BDI items when analysed separately. Insomnia and weight loss were not dependent on the depression diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relatively small sample size and the selected patient sample limit the generalisability of the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatic symptoms of depression are also common in chronic pain and should not be excluded when diagnosing depression in pain patients. Regardless of the assessment method, diagnosing depression in chronic pain remains a challenge and requires careful interpretation of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knaster
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ann-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Estlander
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Hasse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalso
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011581:Psychological Tests