Persistent depressive symptoms and pain after cardiac surgery.

TitlePersistent depressive symptoms and pain after cardiac surgery.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsDoering LV, Chen B, McGuire A, Bodán RCross, Irwin MR
JournalPsychosom Med
Volume76
Issue6
Pagination437-44
Date Published2014 Jul-Aug
ISSN1534-7796
KeywordsAged, Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Comorbidity, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Pain Measurement, Postoperative Complications, Postoperative Period, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to describe trajectories of depressive symptoms and pain at hospital discharge and 6 weeks later and to examine the relationship of persistent depressive symptoms to pain.

METHODS: Before and 6 weeks after hospital discharge, 251 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (mean [SD] age = 67.3 [9.5] years; 73% male) completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of persistent depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score >10 at both times). Between-group differences in pain interference (BPI-INT) and pain severity (BPI-SEV) were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Linear regressions were performed to determine if changes in depressive symptoms were related to BPI-INT and BPI-SEV, controlling for demographic and clinical data.

RESULTS: Persistent (16.3%) or worsening depressive symptoms (15.3%) from hospital discharge to 6 weeks were observed; many experienced at least some persistent pain (BPI-INT 67.8%, BPI-SEV 47.8%). From discharge to 6 weeks, patients with persistent depressive symptoms sustained higher levels of BPI-INT (p < .001) and BPI-SEV (p < .003). In multivariate analysis, only changes in depressive symptoms, not clinical and demographic variables, were related to BPI-INT (p < .001) and BPI-SEV (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Persistent depressive symptoms are independently associated with continued pain up to 6 weeks after hospital discharge. Successful treatment of ongoing pain should include screening for depressive symptoms and initiation of appropriate treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATON: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00522717.

DOI10.1097/PSY.0000000000000074
Alternate JournalPsychosom Med
PubMed ID24979578
PubMed Central IDPMC4139703
Grant List5R01NR009228-02 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 NR009228 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States