title: Factors associated with and impact of pain persistence in Asian patients with depression: a 3-month, prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the depression outcomes and the factors associated with pain persistence in Asian patients treated for major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study enrolled 909 Asian adult inpatients and outpatients. The presence or absence of painful physical symptoms and severity of depression were assessed at baseline and after three months of treatment. Factors associated with pain persistence and outcome of depression were investigated using regression methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 909 patients enrolled, 684 were included in the analysis and evaluated at three months. Of them, 335 (49%) had no pain at baseline nor follow up, 198 (29%) at baseline but not at follow up and 151 (22%) in both assessments. Pain more frequently persisted in patients who were divorced/widowed/separated, with >1 comorbidity, aged <40 years, with previous MDD episodes, taking pain medications, and with greater depression severity. At three months, response/remission were 84%/73% in the no pain group, 83%/63% in the remitted pain group and 46%/25% in the persistent pain group (differences all p < .0001; all bivariate comparisons were statistically significant with p < .05 except response between no pain and remitted pain). Persistent pain was also associated with less improvement in quality of life and health state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pain should be taken into account when diagnosing MDD and when tailoring therapy.
authors: a Eli Lilly and Company , Windlesham, Surrey , UK.
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Novick
authors: b Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd , West Ryde , Australia.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Montgomery
authors: c Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Jaume
authors: J
authors: Aguado
authors: d Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis , IN , USA.
authors: Xiaomei
authors: X
authors: Peng
authors: c Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Josep Maria
authors: JM
authors: Haro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000208:ethnology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Asia; Pain; disease progression; major depressive disorder; quality of life