Psychiatria pre prax 2/2020

Treatment of depressive disorders in pain syndromes

Comorbidity of depressive disorder and chronic pain is very common in clinical practice. It is connected to worse prognosis and more severe symptoms of both of them. A recognition of depressive disorder is the most important as it is often manifested with somatic symptoms only. Common neurobiological mechanisms clarify the effectivity of antidepressants and psychotherapy in treatment of pain. Both noradrenergic and serotonergic effect is needed for analgesic effect, so the older tricyclic antidepressants and newer dual antidepressants SNRI are used.

Keywords: depressive disorder, pain, antidepressants, psychotherapy