Frequency of Depression among Patients with Backache presenting to Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain accompanies emotional element in the form of psychiatric disorders. Chronic medical conditions such as backache may make a person at higher risk for depression. Depressed patients also have somatic symptoms as headache, fatigue, and backache. To understand the relationship, we conducted this study at neurosurgery Outpatient department of Mardan medical complex, Mardan.
Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the causal relationship of backache and depression. The study also aimed to explore the frequency of depression among patients with backache.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient department of Mardan Medical Complex. Patients presenting with chief complaints of backache were invited for participation in the study. initial medical and neurological screening was conducted by consultant neurosurgeon and afterwards HAM-D was administered for assessment of depression.
Results: We included 114 male and female patients ranging in age from 22 to 58 years, who presented to neurosurgery OPD with chief complaints of backache. More than half 58% of the patients were female. Minimal depression was found among 22 (19.3%) of the patients, 19 (16.7%) patients had mild depression, 47 (41.2%) had moderate depression, and 26 (22.8%) had severe depression. Highest frequency of depression was observed among patients with infection/ tumor (84.5 %) and those with degenerative backache (79 %). The correlation of type of backache and severity of depression was significant (p= .049).
Conclusion: Depression is common among patients with backache, therefore screening patients with complaints of backache for psychiatric co morbidity in primary care is important because psychopathology may have significant consequences for prognosis, outcome and health care utilization.