Patients with chronic pain: evaluating depression and their quality of life in a single center study in Greece

Ekaterini Rapti; Dimitrios Damigos; Paraskevi Apostolara; Vasiliki Roka; Chara Tzavara; Christos Lionis

doi:10.1186/s40359-019-0366-0

Patients with chronic pain: evaluating depression and their quality of life in a single center study in Greece

BMC Psychol. 2019 Dec 21;7(1):86. doi: 10.1186/s40359-019-0366-0.

Authors

Ekaterini Rapti¹, Dimitrios Damigos², Paraskevi Apostolara³, Vasiliki Roka⁴, Chara Tzavara⁵, Christos Lionis⁶

Affiliations

¹ Medical Center of Ag. Theodoroi-Loutrakiou, Dimitriou Stamou 8 St, Ag. Theodoroi, Corinthia, Greece. ksprapti2@gmail.com.
² Medical Psychology, Laboratory, Medical Psychology, University of Ioannina, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
³ Nursing Department, University of West Attica, Scientific Partner of Faculty of NursingNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Hellenic Navy, Navy Hospital of Athens, Scientific Partner of Faculty of Nursing, Adjunct Academic Staff, MSc Health Care Management, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellenic Open University, Athens, Greece.
⁵ Biostatistician, Centre for Health Services Research, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
⁶ General Practice and Primary Health Care, Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain constitutes one of the most common reasons for seeking health care services and may even lead to disability. Chronic pain has been associated with depression and deterioration of the quality of life. The aim of our study is to outline the burden of chronic pain in the context of a primary health care (PHC) setting in Greece and to investigate its association with depression and quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2016 to November 2016. The subjects of the study comprised 200 individuals who visited the regional medical center of Ag. Theodoroi, Greece. The collected data were from a representative sample of 200 adults and included demographic data, social and medical history, presence and characteristics of chronic pain and questions from three questionnaires for the assessment of pain (BPI- short form), the investigation of depression (PHQ-9) and the evaluation of the quality of life (EuroQ-5D) validated in Greek language. Multiple regression analysis was used in order to find associated factors with quality of life, depression and chronic pain.

Results: A percentage of 56.8% of the participants, the majority of whom (62%) were women, reported chronic pain. Among individuals with pain, lower back area was the most common location. Based on the given questionnaire, depression was detected in 22. 5% of the participants who claimed chronic pain. Regression analyses revealed that women and respondents with chronic mental disorders like depression and anxiety had significantly higher scores on the pain scale and suffered pain which had a greater impact on their daily activities. According to regression analysis decreased quality of life was expressed by women, as well as participants with a chronic mental disorder. A significant reverse correlation emerged between the quality of life, depression and pain scales.

Conclusion: Chronic pain, as it has been studied within this PHC setting, is a common health care problem. Individuals who had experienced chronic pain and depression had a lower health-related quality of life.

Keywords: BPI; Chronic pain; Depression; Euro- 5 D; PHQ-9; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Chronic Pain / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / etiology*
Female
Greece
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pain Measurement
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult