Pain Symptoms as Predictors of Depressive or Anxiety Disorders in Patients with Physical Illness]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of pain symptoms reported by patients of non-psychiatric hospital departments and to explore their association with affective and anxiety disorders. Methods: Patients of non-psychiatric hospital departments (n=290) reported pain symptoms by filling in a self-rating questionnaire. Psychiatric examinations were performed by psychiatrists using a structured diagnostic interview. The sum-scores of self-reported pain symptoms were tested for their screening accuracy for anxiety and depression. Results: Patients suffering from affective or anxiety disorders reported significantly more often three or more pain symptoms (63% vs. 28%). Using a cut-off value of >= 3 of self-reported pain symptoms yielded a sensitivity of 63.1% and a specificity of 71.7 %. Conclusions: These findings highlight the relevance of a higher number of pain symptoms as a possible indicator for affective and anxiety disorders. The use of pain symptoms as pre-screening for depression and anxiety might be a useful tool, but needs further research before it can be recommended.